The Duquesne Duke

Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Tony Pimpinella Duquesne University plans to demolish Des Places Language Center in order to make room for a new 12-story residence hall. Des Place is located on Stevenson Street, on the eastern border of Duquesne's campus.

Duquesne University received approval from its Board of Directors last month to begin demolishing the Des Places Language Center in November to make room for a new dormitory building.

But the new dormitory's construction would not begin until sometime in the spring of 2011, depending on weather conditions and city approval, according to University spokeswoman Bridget Fare.

"[The spot] was identified as a possible construction site because of the condition the building was in and the location at the edge of campus," Fare said.

Located on Stevenson Street, Des Places is close to the other residence halls, most of which have a traditional two-bed, dorm-style set-up. According to Fare, the new dorm will be 12 stories, will house approximately 400 beds and will feature "suite-style" rooms for upperclassmen. The University also plans to have the building LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, she said.

The first public hearing in front of the City Planning Commission will take place on March 30. According to Fare, the University will present to the city a "proposed amendment to Duquesne's master plan," which was released in 2004.

When the University began creating a master plan in 2003, it included the possibility for new housing, but the amount of housing the University is seeking to build has changed.

"The original master plan has a possible dorm as an eight-story building," as opposed to 12, Fare said.

Currently, the five-story Des Places building houses the modern language department, the offices of WDUQ and the offices of The Duquesne Duke, but over the summer, all three will move into other buildings.

The modern language department and The Duke will both move into Fisher Hall, with the modern languages department taking over the old public affairs offices on the second floor, and The Duke moving into a temporary location in the basement. According to Fare, WDUQ has been looking into a building the University purchased in 2009 at 709 Forbes Ave., which used to house a musician's union office.

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