The Aquinas 1958-10-03

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The AQUINAS October 3, 1958
Dorm Facilities Dedicated' I,'
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AND A FEW MONTHS LATER . .. we had this. The same
keen-eyed observer who spotted -the flooring'in the previoUs picture
can see the progress of the work. The walls had started ,to
go up and it was reasonably sure that the buildings would be
completed for the ppening of the Fall semester.
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AFTER A FEW MONTHS . . . of hard work by assorted em-. II8tJ
ployees of the S. G. Mastriani Const. Co., the dorms looked like •.
this. Shown is a view from the Linden St. side of the dormitory
complex. Keen-eyed! ebservers can see the steel framework be-ing
laid for the one-piece cast concrete floors which are a COllstruction
feature of the structures.
DediCtltion of the university's four new aormitories was conducted Wed-nesday,
Sept. J.O, by the Most Reverend Jerome D. Hannan, D.D., Bishop of .~.
Scranton.
Prior to the' dedication, a prpcession of clergy and members of the university
faculty, attir0d in academic robes, was held. Members of the freshman
class and a detachment ,of advanced ROTC students also attended the ceremonies.
Following the cerl:.~onies the Very Rev. John J. Long, S.J., president of
the university, 'and Bishop Hannan addressed the group.
The ground on which' the buildings have been constructed was donated
to the university by the Scranton Elks Club and N. B. Epstein.
The dormitories, constructeq at a cost of $757,000, were financed through
a loan from the College Housing -Program of the Federal Home and Housing
Finance Agency. The loan has been amortized over a 40 year period.
The four buildings provide living and sleeping quarters for 200 students.
Each building has accommodations for 50 students and one counselor.
Each structure contains on the first floor, recreation and social areas,
laundry and heating facilities.
The second and third floors include student sleeping quarters, the counselor's
SUite, including bedroom and office, and- a chapel. Student sleeping quarters,
while identical in design, have varied color schemes to create an impression
of individuality. _
Each bedroom contains beds, closets, desks"and chests for two. Bed and
desk lamps are adjustable.
Bellante & Clauss performed the architectural and engineering aspects of
the construction while the-general construction was dCme by the S. G. Mastriani
Co. '
InclUded in the construction of the dormitories were a number of concepts
new to the locale. Pre-cast concrete slabs have been utilized to serve as
both the floor of one level and the ceiling of another. Also .new to the area is the
connecting bridge between the buildings. " •
On the Friday preceding the dedication the buildings were open to the
public. Members of the.ROTC Corps served as guides. ,,'
The new dormitories give the university the first pel'manent housing in
its history. The old housing facilities, which were located across the street from
the new structures, will be razed to provide room for the construction of the
Stu.dent Union building. ,
The dormitories represent the second major jmprovemel~t under the development
.program begun four years ago. In addition to the Student Unio~
building; a library is scheduled to' be constructed to replace the rrresent on.
located,in the main building on Wyoming Ave.
(Scranton Tribune photo)
the new structures. From left to right
are Martin, McCourt and Fitch Halls.
. These names have been transferred to
the new buildings. The fourth unit ~s
named Casey Hall after another converted
home on Clay Ave. which saw
two year's service.
(Scranton Tribune photo) .
tral courtyard. Each room will be
occupied by two students, each to
have his own bed, desk and closet.
Each dorm will be supervised by two
counselors.
something like this architect's model
shown here. A loan frJm the Federal
I Housing and Home Finance Agency
and a year's construction . . .
ms IS WHAT WE GOT .•.
brand new dormitories each
of housing 50 students. A
om Quincy shows two units of
lr unoit complex and the cen-
FffiST WE HAD TillS. . Shown
are the three Quincy Ave. dormitories
vacated after the construction of four
new dorms directly acro~s the street.
These converted residence homes were
the only housing available to out-ofJown
students until the completion of
BUT WE WANTED SOMETHING
LmE THIS . . . The.old dormitories
were hard to heat, hard to clean and
hard to maintain so the university
administration decided that we needed