Ceremony Held For Dormitory To Be Built On Grace Campus
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE – A groundbreaking ceremony was Thursday afternoon for an 80-bed townhouse-style dormitory being built on the Grace College campus. Due to inclement weather, the ceremony was held indoors at the Mount Memorial Art Gallery on the college’s campus. Holladay Properties, South Bend, was selected to develop the dormitory. The cost of the project is $2.4 million. The townhouse 10-unit multiple-level dorm will be called “Lancer Lofts” for upperclassmen. Each unit will feature a full kitchen, laundry facilities, flat-screen television, granite counter tops, 2-1/2 bathrooms and four bedrooms to house eight students per unit. The new dorm will sit at the corner of West 7th Street and King’s Highway. Holladay has been working since March on plans to assist Grace College in addressing their student housing needs, with representatives from both South Bend and Portage offices providing resources and expertise toward the effort. Holladay participated in a bidding process and was selected from multiple developers to design and build the project. “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with an institution like Grace College to provide innovative student housing solutions,” said Drew Mitchell, vice president of development for Holladay Properties. “We also have to thank our architectural partner, Design Collaborative, a company with a great deal of student housing design experience and expertise.” Mitchell said Holladay Properties began moving dirt last week, and plans are for the project to be completed in July with students moving in before the school year begins. Grace will master lease the project from Holladay Properties to provide on-campus housing for primarily upperclassmen. Dr. Bill Katip, Grace College president, spoke during the ceremony. “When we think about a complete education what we’d like to offer it is a comprehensive education with integration of academic and student affairs,” Katip said. Dr. Jim Swanson, Grace College vice president of student and academic affairs, said the dorm will be an asset to the college. “We are excited to add this 80-bed facility as we have been fortunate to rent many houses and work with Grace Village to provide a place in the community for students to live,” Swanson said. Dr. Jim Custer, Grace College Board of Trustees chair, spoke of the importance of the dorms. “In today’s world with the increased hazards pointed at our youth and a breakdown of the traditional family, it’s necessary to have safe places to live and I’m so thrilled we are building this additional space,” Custer said. Bruce Shaffner, Winona Lake Town Council president, spoke during the ceremony about the positive relationship between the town and the college. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to see continued growth with Grace College,” Shaffner said. “I believe the town’s relationship with the college is stronger today than it ever has been and we wish you much success with your dormitory.” Jackie Seal, Grace College student body president, ended the ceremony with a prayer.
