Ground has been broken on site for the new parking deck, which will replace lots 6, 6A and 6B and the apartment complexes behind the Pennington Road transfer housing.
According to John Stafford, director of Residence Life, the new apartments will add 600 beds to the campus and will be for junior and senior students only.
Each apartment will contain a full kitchen, including a refrigerator and stove, a living room and one of a series of different bedroom configurations.
"Students will be able to establish a living community like that of an off-campus apartment, with all the conveniences of living on campus," Stafford said.
Currently the apartments are expected to cost the same as any other on-campus residence, but students living there will be provided with an alternate, smaller meal plan because of the full kitchen provided, Stafford said.
The apartments are scheduled to be completed by July or August and to be ready for residents by Fall 2004.
According to Stafford there is no word yet on which building will be closed for renovations when the apartments are finished.
Staffing assignments for the new residence halls will be decided before the housing lottery.
