Office of Institutional Research and PlanningFacts and Figures
New University Initiatives
2007-08
Louise and David Roselle Center for the Arts
The $48 million Louise and David Roselle Center for the Arts, constructed on Orchard Road adjacent to the Amy E. du Pont Music Building, provides new performance spaces for music and theatre. The 92,000 gross-square-foot performing arts facility also includes a 200-seat recital hall, a 300-seat orchestra hall, a 450-seat proscenium theatre and 32 music practice rooms. The architect for the Center for the Arts is Ayers Saint Gross of Baltimore. This project, which opened in August 2006, was funded through generous donations and University resources.
Residence Halls
The University has constructed three new residence halls on the Laird campus providing 1,000 beds. These buildings replaced the former 750 bed Pencader complex that consisted of 12 residential buildings and three commons buildings. The $72 million project began in 2004 with the 500 bed George Reed Hall opening in the fall of 2005 and Thomas McKean and James Smith Halls, each housing 250 students, opened in fall of 2006. The fall of 2006 also saw the opening of a new pedestrian bridge connecting Laird Campus with Ray Street.
An additional 600 bed residence hall is currently under construction on the Laird Campus with completion slated for the fall of 2008. This additional building will facilitate the University's renovation of its east and west campus residence halls (Russell, Gilbert, Harrington, Dickinson, Rodney) that were built in the 1960's through early 1970's. These residence hall complexes range in size from 600-850 beds and having the added capacity will allow an entire complex to be renovated at one time. Renovation of the Russell complex has begun in phases with the completion of the last phase scheduled for the fall of 2009. The Harrington complex will follow during the 2008-2009 academic year.
Brown Laboratory
The University is completing a major renovation of Brown Laboratory. Brown Lab was constructed in 1937, and houses the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The south wing of Brown Lab was renovated in 1994-95 at a cost of $6.5 million. The north and west wings, however, contain out-of-date laboratory, research, and support space, and require extensive renovation at an estimated cost in excess of $29 million. Given the central role that the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry plays in supporting a number of sectors in Delaware's economy, modern and functional research facilities are not only an investment in the University, but in the State's fiscal health as well. This project is funded through University and State resources and will be completed in the fall of 2007.
Enrollment Services Center
A new two-story building of approximately 26,000 square feet is being constructed on South College Avenue opposite the Morris Library. This building will house the offices of Admissions, Financial Aid and Registrar as well as the Admissions Visitors Center now located in an adjacent house. The current Visitors Center is inadequate for the volume of prospective students visiting the campus. Co-location of the enrollment services departments will result in operating efficiencies not possible with the present multiple location enviroment.