Rock blasting at a site between Slosberg Music Center and Epstein began in July to make way for the new student residence hall. "Blasting has been planned," John J. Cummings, Project Manager, wrote in an e-mail sent to the student body this summer, "to excavate bedrock for the building's foundation and to prepare for the utilities that will support the new building."The blasting, which was necessary due to the building's location on a rock ledge, was scheduled to end this week. A new water line is also being constructed near the Slosberg Music Center, which has forced the University to temporarily close a portion of M-Lot.

Residence Life and others involved with the Residence Hall project this summer began to work on details of the final design of the new building. Michael LaFarr, Associate Director of Residence Life, said that they also have begun to choose building materials for the residence hall. Lafarr also said Residence Life will choose interior materials only after it is able to put back together student focus groups, "in a couple of weeks."

"We are very pleased with the design," LaFarr said, "and we expect that the students who are fortunate to live in the new hall will share our enthusiasm.