The construction of the Bearkat Village apartments is still underway and expected to be completed for the fall semester.
The new apartment buildings, named Bearkat Village I and Bearkat Village II, will be located at the intersection of Montgomery Road and Bowers Boulevard across from Bowers Stadium.
When finished, the apartments will be the first new residence halls constructed on campus since 1962. The new apartments will replace the living space lost after several residence halls were demolished over the past several years.
John McCroskey, assistant director of Physical Plant, said the project is on schedule and is now 15 percent complete.
“It’s going along according to schedule,” McCroskey said. “We’ve overcome some obstacles, and we have not lost the schedule. We will continue to try to do that.”
One of the problems that arose during construction was the discovery of an unusual soil condition at the site of the future apartments.
McCroskey said the soil had to be replaced with a more choice soil, but the switch did not affect the timetable.
“We will not let that slow us down,” McCroskey said. “We are doing everything we can to finish on schedule.”
Weather permitting, McCroskey said the project is expected to be finished in August and ready for move in at the start of the fall semester.
McCroskey said the project would not have been possible without the work of project director Gary House.
“His efforts have been valuable to the maintaining of the schedule and quality of the work,” McCroskey said.
The C. F. Jordan Construction Company from Dallas is undertaking the construction. McCroskey said the project is costing SHSU a total of $1.45 million.
Bonds the university purchased last year will cover the cost of building the apartments and will be paid off with the rent money collected by tenants.
The price of student service fees for students living elsewhere will remain the same when the new apartments open. Fees for students living in the Bearkat Village will be slightly higher than other facilities on campus because it is a new residence hall.
Last semester Kim Baechtel, assistant director of Residence Life said the older SHSU Colony Apartments will remain in operation.