Contributed photo
A model of the lobby for the new assisted living dormitory, which will open in the spring of 2014.
Students may be interested to know that a new dormitory—McGee Towers—will be constructed on campus by the the time they return this coming fall. Unfortunately, though, for them, this dorm is for alumni, not students.
Many alumni have expressed that four years in community-style living could never be enough, which is exactly why ENC has decided to begin constructing assisted living housing facilities on campus for our elderly alumni.
The new assisted living dormitory will be built in place of the current Waterston student parking lot. The decision came after initial talks were held to construct the building on the front lawn between Gardner Hall and Wollaston Church of the Nazarene.
The administration decided that the front lawn is too valuable, as commencement would need to be performed elsewhere each May.
Construction will begin at the end of this semester and be completed by the fall. However, alumni will not move into the building until the beginning of the spring semester.
Funding for the project was approved at the most recent Board of Trustees meetings earlier this month.
“During a recent Board of Trustees retreat in Maryland, the Board unanimously approved the building of McGee Towers, an assisted living residence hall for elderly ENC alum. The first phase will begin this summer with Tower One, followed by Tower Two in 2015,” said Vice President for Student Development Dr. Vern Wesley.
It was decided that the current parking lot was the best spot, as each room will have a balcony. Alumni will be able to sit on their balconies and watch the men’s tennis team in the spring. Discussions are ongoing about where the student parking lot will be relocated.
The new building will create deep-seated family bonds and create new job opportunities and internships for students. Students with alumni family members can now spend even more time with their parents or grandparents, as they can now all live on campus together.
Alumni have begun to respond to the news.
“I am so grateful that the college decided to name the food preparation area after my family,” said Doug Kitchen, a 1982 graduate of ENC.
Recent 2011 graduate Sean Reese is excited for the future and would even be interested in being a resident assistant for the building, if it’s decided one is needed.
“As someone who spent the best time of my life at ENC, I’m excited for the potential opportunity to return to ENC with my family as residents in this new building,” said Reese.
He continued, “Now, I’ll be able to relive the best aspects of my ENC experience for more than just the four years I spent earning my degree. If they need a resident assistant for this new building, I’m all in.”
Jason Parker (’04) is also excited about the news.
“I think it will really help reconnect alumni to the ENC community, and provide potential job opportunities for students. Also, it provides a great option for retiring faculty and staff,” said Parker.
The great, comforting news is that now we all have something to look forward to in our futures. We have a few milestones between then and now, but when we’re retiring and ready to be spoon-fed, we can all come straight back to ENC to relive our college glory days and tell all of the new students our witty stories and jokes.