A big question about on campus student housing has finally been answered. Lee University’s Board of Directors and the President’s Cabinet have announced the construction of eight new units to be added to Brinsfield Row. The construction is to begin immediately.

Within the next year and a half, the university plans to see four major changes across campus. The most obvious change will be the completion of the School of Religion building, which is on schedule to wrap up sometime this fall. However, the university also plans to begin construction of the science building later this spring and students will begin to see the Lee University Mayfield Annex’s ample space used more rapidly.

The need for extra housing is an issue that has begun to demand more attention over the past few semesters. Each semester Lee’s Residential Life has seen a steady increase in housing needs to fill.

An additional eight units, to the left of the current units, will provide on-campus housing for an additional 32 female upperclassmen. The project will be a part of Lee’s “press toward the mark,” campaign, along with the School of Religion building and science building.

“This is something that we have been talking about. Housing has always been an issue. We don’t want to over-project the residents in the dormitories, but we have been continuously thinking of possible ways to make residential life on campus more exciting,” said Gary Ray, Vice President of Admissions and current President Pro Tem. “The question wasn’t if we should do it, the question was when. We’ve now decided that this is the ideal time.”

The additional housing is scheduled to be completed by the beginning of the upcoming fall semester.