The construction that has been taking place on South Donahue for the last year and a half will soon come to an end.
Kim Trupp, director of housing and residence life, said the new South Donahue Residence Hall is being built on the former site of Sewell Hall, which previously housed male students and male student athletes since the 1960s.
The South Donahue Residence Hall currently being built in its place will house 49 percent student athletes and 51 percent students.
"When the decision was made to demolish Sewell placing a new residence hall which would house male and female student athletes as well as male and female students in general on that site, it made sense because of its proximity to the athletic facilities and Student Development Center," Trupp said. "The site is also a relatively short distance to the academic core and the Student Center."
When it opens on the first move-in day of the fall semester of this year, the residence hall on South Donahue will house 418 Auburn students in two and four-bedroom suites.
All undergraduate students qualify to live in South Donahue Residence Hall.
Trupp said the residence hall will be fully occupied this fall.
Current students have already made their request to live in the hall and incoming freshman can make their request on their housing application.
Trupp said the two bedroom units will cost each student $4,800 per semester and the four bedroom unit will cost each student $4,300 per semester.
"It has a premium price tag, but it's a premium residence hall and we've had more request from students who want to live there than we have beds," Trupp said.
Brad Easely, project manager, said the project is on schedule to be ready for students to move in this fall.
Each suite includes a 42-inch flat-screen television in the shared living room, a washer and dryer, queen-sized beds, quartz countertops and tiled bathrooms and showers with a glass door.
Each student living in the residence hall will be given the opportunity to purchase a parking permit for the parking garage currently being built across the street.
Trupp said the first floor of the building will not have units, but will have a common space and a convenience store.
"The building surrounds a courtyard that I think would be a great place for the residents to relax, socialize and play," Trupp said.
Easely believes the best features of the new residence hall are the lushly landscaped courtyard and the quality of the interior finishes.
"There are many features of the residence hall that make it a remarkable facility," Easely said.
Hayley Robinson, sophomore in pre-communication said she would like to have seen the money spent on renovating the dorms on the Hill instead of building the new South Donahue Residence Hall, but that she thinks the new residence hall does have positive aspects.
"It will provide more spaces for students to live so Auburn doesn't have to warn students that housing is first-come, first serve," Robinson said.
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