Construction might begin within the year on a new, privately funded, 560-bed dormitory at the Northern Arizona University.

The Arizona Board of Regents green-lighted the $40 million project during its meeting this week in Flagstaff.

The regents approved NAU's capital improvement plan for the next two years, with the major item in the plan being the dorm.

The residence hall is expected to resemble the year-old, state-of-the-art Aspen Crossing dorm.

Here are some key features of the planned hall:

— The hall will house about 560 upperclassmen in apartment units or suite-style room pods. The building will also include classrooms, common spaces, and retail, dining and office space.

David Bousquet, NAU's vice president for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, said an architectural design hasn't been sketched out but it's unlikely the university would approve a high-rise.

— The dorm will be built on an as-yet specified parcel in the south-central part of the campus and the developer will also need to plan for adjoining parking. Construction could begin in 2010, with completion by fall 2011.

— It will not replace an older dorm.

— The dorm will not be taxpayer-funded. The university will retain ownership of the land and lease it to the developer. The project will pay for itself through student rent.

This is similar to the arrangement that put the High Country Conference Center and Drury Inn and Suites on the northwest corner of campus.

FULL HOUSE; APPLICATION DEADLINES MOVED UP

Bousquet said the university has planning for a new dorm for at least two years as record growth has underscored the need for more on-campus housing.

As of last Wednesday, the Flagstaff campus had just more than 16,000 students, breaking a 14-year-old record. The freshman class, at more than 3,600, is the largest in university history, and housing officials make freshmen a priority.

In the last three years, NAU has added more than 800 new beds and all were snapped up immediately after being made available, Bousquet said. This fall started without waiting lists but did have 221 students in expanded capacity housing, which made living spaces out of converted study lounges or the other half of resident assistants' rooms. The traditional halls alone house 6,673 students, and there are also two apartment-style halls for married couples or students with children.

But, Bousquet said, Residence Life stopped taking housing applications from returning students in April, although the office typically accepts applications through the summer. They cut off housing applications from transfers in May.

"And finally, if we experience the same renewal rate next year that we did this year and if we bring in a comparable freshman class to fall '09, we'll have to turn down 749 people," he said.

The housing project is not related to the construction of a parking garage on the current site of the Fronske Health Center, which will be demolished when the integrated Health and Learning Center opens a few blocks to the north.

Bousquet said the Regents have encouraged public-private partnerships for the next housing project to protect NAU's debt capacity.

Even if enrollment slows down and stays static, he said the demand would still be favorable to a new hall and even more housing might be needed in the future.

Hillary Davis can be reached at hdavis@azdailysun.com or 556-2261.

New health clinic ready to break ground

Workers are about to turn over dirt on the site of NAU's new Health and Learning Center.

The Legislature's Joint Committee on Capital Review this week gave a favorable review to the Health and Learning Center, which will integrate the campus recreation and fitness center, health clinic, mental health and counseling services, classrooms, a cafe and social gathering space. It will be located off of South San Francisco Street near Lumberjack Stadium.

The center is being paid for with student fees. Workers are expected to break ground within the next two to four weeks, said a university spokeswoman.

. Other projects listed under NAU's recently approved capital improvement plan include about $12 million in building "renewal" projects. Those include updates to the health sciences, nursing and education buildings. They are further down the timetable, tentatively slated for fiscal year 2012.

And on the topic of building renovations, the Regents this week also gave project re-approval to the "SPEED" projects that were approved last September but delayed in light of the state budget crisis.

NAU outlined about $170 million in building renewal and new construction to fall under the state's Stimulus Plan for Economic and Educational Development. The university would pick up 20 percent of the cost while Arizona Lottery revenues make up the difference. But a state fiscal meltdown put the plans on hold.

Board of Regents policy states that projects be resubmitted for approval if construction is not started within 12 months. The university has five approved SPEED projects: upgrades to the Liberal Arts, Hotel and Restaurant Management and North Union buildings, along with north campus infrastructure and the Skydome.