Varsity Hall was transported to a permanent location near Hospital Drive Saturday.
The move took about eight months to prepare for and about eight hours to complete, according to University Architect David Neuman. The project cost approximately $2.5 million, Neuman said.
The move makes way for the expansion of Rouss Hall, which will become the new home of the McIntire School of Commerce.
Because some faculty members are using closets for office space and every classroom and teaching slot is filled, School of Commerce Dean Carl Zeithaml said the School of Commerce has exhausted all resources and space available at Monroe Hall.
"We're simply out of space in Monroe Hall," Zeithaml said. "Essentially, we're overwhelmed. It really restricts our ability to do anything new and different or add support staff for students."
The new complex will span 156,000 square feet. The space, resources and technology will enable the school to offer more competitive programs and classes as well as collaborate with other schools at the University, Ziethaml said.
"We're a top-10 program, and virtually all of the schools in the top 25 or 20 either have a new building or are building a new building so it's really a competitive issue," he said.
The expansion is expected to be completed by the fall of 2007, according to Zeithaml.
Varsity Hall should be ready for new occupants within a year and a half but maybe sooner, he said.
Renovations on Varsity Hall, which include a new foundation and restoration of the lower brick wall, are expected to take another six months. There is also more work to be done on the interior, according to Neuman.
The lower four feet of Varsity Hall had to be removed because of moisture in the walls that was weakening the building, Neuman said.
After the four feet were removed from the brick structure, steel beams and hydraulically maneuvered wheels were placed under the building. The building was then moved down a gravel-packed slope.
The process was completed by Expert House Movers.
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