Built in the 1950s, the FarmHouse fraternity house is ready for an update.
Theo Lawson | Argonaut
FarmHouse is planning its first major renovation since being built in the 1950s. Renovations will include a redesign of the kitchen, a new lounge space, and relocation of the bathrooms to expand one of its hallways. The construction project is expected to begin late in 2016.
The house is currently in the second year of a five-year campaign to raise funds to remodel the 60-year-old building beginning in 2016, said Brandon Grant, the chairman for the LeTourneau Legacy Building Campaign.
The fraternity has raised approximately $700,000 in the first year of the campaign, and has a minimum fundraising goal of $750,000, but expects to raise around $1.2 million in total funds.
“The more we collect, the more we can do,” Maurice Johnson, a FarmHouse alumni and advisor, said.
Mike Roberts, FarmHouse president, said besides minor updates like new carpet, the building has not seen any major renovations since it was built in the mid-fifties.
“It’s just time to make sure that we bring it into the 21st century, that we make it more comfortable, we make sure it’s as safe as can be for our undergraduate members,” Grant said. “It was time to do this so we can be competitive, we can ensure that FarmHouse Fraternity was going to remain a very viable and active chapter.”
Grant said Farmhouse is receiving funds from alumni donations, with help from the national chapter, and a small number of non-alumni donations. Grant said many non-alumni have donated to the campaign to honor Duane LeTourneau, who recently passed away, and was a founding member of the FarmHouse chapter at UI.
Every year of the campaign current FarmHouse members have pledged to donate $5,000.
Johnson said major renovations will include a complete redesign of the kitchen to meet safety standards, but also the needs of the fraternity. He said the main floor plan of the house will stay the same, however they will add a new lounge space, and relocate bathrooms to expand a hallway.
The basic floor plan and structure will stay intact, however dorm rooms, outside paneling and roofs will be redone, Roberts said.
Grant said the new building will have more room for recreation and activities, and if the money is raised they will update the interior design.
“We’ll be looking to make sure that, one, our membership has a safe and comfortable place to live, two, that we’re up to current building codes, so we have a sound facility that will carry us for another 40 to 50 years,” Grant said. “Looking to make sure that we are competitive from a technology standpoint.”
During the remodel FarmHouse members will be relocated to another living arrangement for about a semester, but that is in the early decision-making stages, Grant said.
“We’ll be working with the undergraduates to make the impact as minimal as possible on their academic time, and hopefully utilize, of course, the summer months as much as possible,” Grant said.
Roberts said they hope the new house will last them for many more decades to come and make Farmhouse more competitive in recruiting.
FarmHouse has hired ZGA Architects, a Boise architect firm, to design the renovation.
Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected]