UCA officials will break ground on an $18 million residential hall on Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. near the visitor’s stand at Estes Stadium. Bear Hall, a 120,000-square-foot five-story facility, will replace Minton Hall, which has been closed for the past three years.
Bear Hall will include 385 beds, three seminar rooms, two apartments, a large lobby area with a kitchen and laundry and study rooms.
The new residential hall is being funded through a bond issue. Part of the funds from the bond will be used to renovate other residential halls, said Diane Newton, vice president of finance and administration. About $2 million in improvements will be made to State, Conway, Hughes and Carmichael halls.
About 50,000 bricks taken from Minton Hall will be used in the construction of Bear Hall. The new residential hall will be located directly behind the visitor’s stand at Estes Stadium.Bear Hall is scheduled to open in fall 2012.
Bear Hall also will feature twelve 20-person skyboxes on the fifth floor. The $2 million skyboxes are being built with private funds. The boxes will be available for lease at a cost of $25,000 a year, with a 10-year commitment. The skyboxes include private entrances, indoor and outdoor seating, reserved parking and elevators and a separate lobby.
In case of inclement weather, the ground breaking will be rescheduled to a later date.