Monday, March 17 marked the groundbreaking of the new residence hall, which brought together board members, deans and other community members.
The 38-million dollar building will be the first new residence hall on campus since North Hall was built in 2017. The hall, which will be built on the sidelines of the football field, will allow residents the view of the game.
with tree removal being the most visible. Photo by: Jordan Wilson|Multimedia Editor
At the ceremony, Vice President of Advancement Marketing and Executive Director of the Ferris Foundation Kathy Mullins, Board of Trustees Vice President Mike Fisher, President Dr. Bill Pink and Dean of Student Life Lina Blair gave speeches about their expectations for the hall.
Pink spoke on the impact he hopes the new residence hall will have on campus.
“This is what Ferris State is doing in Michigan. This is one of those things that, honestly, with how we are situating this residence hall, there’s reason behind the madness because not only is it the beginning of another residence hall to have our students live in comfortably, but it is also the beginning of what we look at, as far as this footprint is concerned, of Top Taggart Field,” Pink said. “This be that first step to show our community, show our country, show our alumni, show our students say, ‘Yes, it is time that Ferris State is indeed looking at what the footprint of this university looks like.”‘
Pink also highlighted that he believes that the building being in the center of campus will be beneficial for students.
The goal of the residence hall isn’t just about adding more rooms to campus.
“This is why the project that we are celebrating today is so important, because it marks the first of several buildings like this that will be housed on this campus, and as I’ve said to people, I’m not focused on adding beds to our campus. I’m focused on replacing beds,” Pink said. “I’m focused on our students being able to live in spaces that are complementary and challenge any other institution in this country, as far as where they live. Now I obviously I understand that we’ve got spaces that are going to take longer for us to replace.”
Most of the current residence halls on campus are from the 1960s.
There was also hope that the new hall would allow students to build on campus connections that would make them feel like they belong.
Blair, who uses they/them pronouns, spoke on their vision for student life in the new hall.
“They’re going to be close to the athletic action that’s pretty exciting, to explore their passions, to challenge their assumptions about the world and to hopefully find themselves,” Blair said. “They might even feel like they’re living in a place that they never envisioned for themselves. I think about common areas that are super busy and buzzing with lots of conversations study notes that are fostering collaboration and quiet corners where students can reflect.”
The hall is scheduled to open in the fall 2026. The name of the new hall has yet to be decided.