Plans are underway to replace the nearly half-century old president”s residence, but the project has already run into a few difficulties during the planning process.
While the University of Idaho plans to tear down the aging structure and build a new one in the same location, the project is still in the early stages of planning and no designs for the new house have been drawn up, said Dan Ewart, vice president for Infrastructure.
He said there is not yet any set timeline for planning and construction.
The university allocated $2 million for the project and the Idaho State Board of Education has authorized the budget.
The first major hitch occurred this spring, when the university received bids for the demolition of the existing house and construction of a new one on the same site, Ewart said. All the bids exceeded the planned budget and the Board of Education authorization, so the university was forced to reevaluate its plans, he said.
The project will be financed partially using university money and partially with money from donors. No state funds are being used.
Ewart said UI is considering many other options, including increasing the budget, raising more money and getting a higher authorization. He said they are also considering scaling back the size of the new house, renovating the existing house or constructing the new house on a different site, which would not require demolition of the old house.
No decision has been made yet and all options are being carefully considered to determine what the best course of action would be, Ewart said.
“(The options) all have merits and they all have other factors and we want to make sure that we make the right long-term decision for the university,” Ewart said
Built in the mid-60s, the current house does not meet the current needs of the university president because of its size and age, Ewart said. Many university events are held at the president”s house – events that give students, faculty, staff and donors a chance to meet the university president, he said.
But due to the house”s small size and lack of a dedicated event space, he said it makes holding these important gatherings a difficult task. The house is also in need of significant upgrades due to its age, including a new roof and a new heating system.
“In many ways, it doesn”t meet the needs of a 21st-Century university,” Ewart said.
Ewart said it is typical for universities to have a president”s residence on campus, especially on a residential campus like UI”s.
Like many of his predecessors, President Chuck Staben considers it essential for the president to live at the university he oversees, Ewart said. He said having the president live on campus fosters a connection between the president and the university – one reason as to why so much effort is being put into the project.
“We”d like to build a residence that the university can be proud of and can serve the university over the next 50 years,” Ewart said. “Much like the one that is there now has done.”
Ryan Locke can be reached at [email protected]