Colorado State University Residence Halls Expected to Open at Full Capacity

Colorado State University is expecting full occupancy in residence halls this fall when more than 5,350 students move onto campus this week. Most arrivals are expected on opening day, Aug. 19.

"Our hall capacity for this year is 5,353 students, so we’re looking to be right on target," said Jim Dolak, executive director of Housing and Dining Services.

Nine students currently assigned to overflow housing are transfer students, late applicants and first-year students who should be assigned to permanent rooms shortly after move-in as no-shows are canceled from the system. In the meantime, students in overflow housing will be assigned to lounge spaces that have been set up with all the amenities of regular rooms.

First-year students are required to live on campus and are guaranteed housing. Returning and transfer students are not guaranteed space but typically are accommodated.

"Rather than turn upperclass and transfer students away, we are pleased to be able to house all students who submitted applications by the July 1 cut-off date,” Dolak said.

The residence halls are ready for full occupancy with several halls featuring a fresh look this fall. Crews worked over the summer to renovate the interior space in Corbett Hall and the exteriors on Ingersoll and Edwards halls.

"We’ve heard from prospective students and alumni for many years that the older halls look just like they did in the 50s and 60s," said Rick Pott, facility planner for Housing and Dining Services. "We have made a commitment to update the interiors and began an extensive exterior project this summer."

Each summer for the past 10 years, an older residence hall has been taken offline to update interiors including furniture, paint, carpeting and fixtures. Fire sprinkler systems have also been added during the renovations to update safety systems in the halls.

"The exterior project that began this summer with Edwards and Ingersoll emphasizes curb appeal outside the buildings by replacing the dated and worn green tiles with brick that better matches the architectural style on campus," Pott said.

The exterior project improved the energy efficiency of the exterior walls by 300 percent with the addition of insulated foam behind the brick and new, energy-efficient windows that lower utility costs and increase the comfort of residents. The new windows are double pane with a high-performance, low e-coating, making them 400 percent more efficient than the original windows that were installed in 1962. Sustainable efforts for the project also included recycling aluminum on old windows and using local brick made in Pueblo, Colo.

New landscaping will be added to the buildings next summer to complete the renovation. The exteriors of two other halls will be updated as part of a second phase next summer.

"With every construction project we undertake, we think of the impact on students, our staff and the environment," Dolak said. "Anytime we can renovate an older building to both look and function better, we are pleased."

As part of an ongoing commitment to sustainability, CSU’s Housing and Dining Services will be sponsoring "cardboard corrals" on move-in day as they have for the past several years to help collect and recycle cardboard from boxes and packages students bring to the halls. Staff volunteers will be on hand to help students and their families break down boxes for recycling. In 2009, 22 tons of cardboard were collected and recycled during move-in.
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