Applications for returning residents wanting to live in the residence halls again are available today.
The priority registration date runs through March 30, and students can choose which hall they prefer, including the new Residential Learning College.
Cal State Long Beach purchased Brooks College in August 2007, and construction is underway as the new dormitory and classrooms are expected to open in fall 2009. The Residential Learning College will house 550 students, six to eight resident assistants, and will also contain four faculty apartments.
The 5.04 acre property was purchased for $11.5 million and the construction will cost an additional $16 million to $18 million.
“The purchase and renovations are less expensive and faster than if we were to build it new,” said Mary Stephens, vice president of administration and finance. “We knew from the beginning this would be a very aggressive schedule and we’re expecting it to be completed by Aug. 15.”
Official renovations of the campus began in January, according to a June 17 article in the Daily Forty-Niner.
The new residence hall, located a mile from campus at 4825 E. Pacific Coast Highway, will have a common space, dining hall, and a computer lab and classes that are centered on the students living there. “After students are selected for housing at the RLC, administration will look at the number of freshmen, sophomores and so on,” Stephens said. “We’ll then put in classes that are specific to their needs in the three classrooms.”
The RLC is modeled as a traditional dormitory like Los Cerritos and Los Alamitos Halls, only larger. Wireless Internet will be available, as well as a swimming pool for residents.
Of the three buildings that comprised Brooks, one was torn down to make a parking lot.
“Although we don’t encourage new students to bring their own cars, it’s inevitable,” Stephens said. “But there will also be a seven-day shuttle provided for the students living at the dorms.”
Extra University Police staff will be hired to patrol the site.
Though many students like the idea of bigger rooms, some are turned off by the distance from the main campus.
“I would take the opportunity to live there because it does offer more space,” said Heather McLernon, a freshman psychology major. “However I would second guess my decision because it is far away from campus and it’d be harder to stay involved in campus activity.”
Housing applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis. CSULB gets about 6,000 applications per year but is only able to house just under 2,000 students.
“This more immediately helps us provide more residential opportunities and choices for students,” CSULB F. King Alexander said in the June 17 article of the Daily Forty-Niner.