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University Daily Kansan Monday, Sept. 16, 1957
—(Daily Kansan photo)
TOTE THAT BAR—Work is under way on the Pearson Hall for men, located just north of
Carruth-O'Leary dormitories, which is expected to be in use in the fall of 1958.
Construction Begins On Pearson
Construction has begun on the 412-man Joseph R. Pearson Hall on West Campus Road north of Carruth and O'Leary halls.
The cost of the dormitory complete with furnishings will be $1,586,110.29 according to Joseph J. Wilson, director of dormitories.
Gifts totaling $247,100 from Mrs. Joseph R. Pearson of Corsicana, Tex., will help finance the hall, in memory of her late husband. Mr. Pearson, who died in 1955, and Mrs Pearson previously had donated the funds to help build two dormitories for women and two scholarship halls for men and women.
The Housing and Home Finance Agency will make a 40-year loan of
$710,000 at 24% percent interest. Another $432,000 will be sought for KU's share of the state 1-mill student housing fund levy. Of the later, $357,534 already has been allocated to KU on the basis of full-time enrollments in the state institutions of higher education, and $75,000 will be sought from KU's share payable at the end of 1957.
In appearance and construction Jospeh R. Pearson will resemble the existing Carruth and O'Leary halls, but will be twice as large.
The hall will be of concrete frame with buff brick exterior, with basement and six floors extending north-south. The basement will have a central kitchen for cafeteria type
serving with dining halls in the north and south basements. The main floor will have the central lounge. Each upper floor will have a recreation room dividing the north and south wings. There will be 2-man rooms, with lightweight cinder block walls.
When occupied in 1958, Joseph R Pearson Hall will more than double KU's dormitory capacity for men.
The bells of the Old North Church made famous by their warning of the approach of the English, were inscribed: "We are the first ring of casts cast for the British Empire in North America."
Two Student Dorms To Be Finished By 1957
Plans for two new dormitories, each housing 432 students, are being made.
The University officials hope the dormitories will be completed by 1959 to help take care of KU's rapidly growing enrollment. James K. Hitt, registrar, estimated that the 1959 enrollment would be around 10.500. The University can now house about 1.350 unmarried students. The rest live in fraternity or sorority houses or in private homes.
Financing for the three million
Blake Hall Plans Halted
Plans for remodeling Blake Hall were halted this summer when contractor's bids exceeded funds available for the project.
The bids exceeded construction costs, on a square foot basis, of the Music and dramatic arts building, said Raymond Nichols, executive secretary.
Mr. Nichols said the state architect "appears to have no alternative but to reject all bids." Howard Compton, assistant state architect, said the bids ran "way beyond the money available."
The low bids totaled $550,675. About $350,000 is available. Total costs, including alternate construction, would have run the cost to about $602,000.
The plan was to convert the 3-story building, formerly occupied by the physics department, into a 4-story building to be occupied by University Extension.
Mr. Nichols said "several alternatives face the University. We can abandon the project completely and turn the money back to the state, we could redesign the building, or we can build a new building."
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dollar project will come from gifts,
from KU's share of the $^{14}$-mill
statewide dormitory fund levy,
and an anticipated $2,400,000 loan
from the Federal Housing and
Home Finance Agency.
The dormitories will be built on the "daisy field," a hilltop meadow owned by the KU Endowment Assn. The land is directly west of Allen Field House and is bounded by Iowa Street on the west, 15th Street on the north, the property of E. B. Dade, professor of business administration, on the south, and Engel Road on the east if it were extended. Engel Road ends at 15th Street.
Land Could Hold Three Halls
"This land can hold three halls of about 400 students each and still meet the University standards for parking and play area." J. J. Wilson, director of dormitories, said.
Lewis Hall for men will be named for the late L. N. Lewis, a Lawrence merchant who made a substantial bequest to the University.
The second hall has not been officially named. It will be used for housing needs when the dormitory is completed.
The 7-floor dormitories will have re-enforced concrete frames with block interior walls. Each will be a 2-student room. Neither building will have a basement because of excavating costs.
Some Patterns As Corrugated Oil row
Same Pattern As Carruth-O'Leary The dorms will have the same basic pattern as Carruth-O'Leary Hall, 'T shaped with students' rooms in each wing and lounges, dining halls, and other facilities in the center.
Unlike Carruth-O'Leary Hail, which has a sunken center section, the center section of the new halls will be a full seven stories high.
Space will be provided for ping pong, television, sitting rooms, and outdoor recreation space.
"We will try to have parking space for half of the new dormitories' residents adjacent to each hall," Mr. Wilson said.
Available at the Kansan Business Office, Room 111, Flint Hall, Phone VI 3-2700, Ext. 376