Skapto 3 construction begins
The groundbreaking took place in OctoberPhoto by Valentin Croitoru
Skapto 3 construction begins
By Edlira Dashi
December 8, 2008
The Housing Committee starts designing an optimal policy for the next two semesters
The construction of Skaptopara 3 Residence Hall started last week, after a two-month time gap since the groundbreaking ceremony. “At the time of the groundbreaking we had not yet put the contract out to bid,” said AUBG President David Huwiler. Despite the early ceremony, which took place during the Board of Trustees meeting in October, the contract was finalized in the last two weeks.
“Once the contract had been awarded, construction began within one week,” Huwiler said. Four companies had submitted contract bids, Vice-president for Finance and Administration Alexander Alexandrov said. The administration does not expect that Skapto 3 will be ready for fall 2009. “The [successful] company has to have the building ready for [occupancy before] January 10, 2010,” Alexandrov added.
“Construction will not stop during winter," Alexandrov said. Construction companies will not work only when there is heavy snow, or when it is really cold: “temperatures of -15/-20 degrees Celsius,” he added.
"One year is the standard period for completing such buildings, as most of the work is done during spring and summer,” Dean of Students Lydia Krise said.
Campus Living Director Todor Kehayov said the Residence Life and Housing Office will not use Hilltop next semester since the number of students leaving and returning almost breaks even “with plus minus five.” Additionally, using Hilltop during the winter is problematic because of the bad weather and transportation, he added.
According to Huwiler, AUBGers might have to return to Hilltop next fall. “The number of students will not be a great deal larger than we have now,” he said. “We will manage, although it will require that we keep triples for a time [as well].”
“Every semester when we design the housing policy we have to take into consideration the number of graduating students and the [number of] incoming freshmen,” Kehayov said. “Additionally, we have to keep in touch with current students.”
The housing policy has to account for the number of students coming from or taking a leave of absence, the number of students going or coming from exchange, the number of students who want to go off-campus or come back on campus, and then account for gender distribution, Kehayov added. Furthermore, English Language Institute (ELI) students are under the responsibility of the Residence Life and Housing Office. “We have to find a place for them, too.”
“We have created a committee to design the best applicable housing policy for the Fall semester,” Kehayov said. Representatives from the Student Government, Student Services, and the Financial and Admissions Offices are participating in the committee to contribute to the design of a successful management of the housing issue in the future.
