INUVIK - A new college residence is going up beside the community greenhouse, and it should be ready for students in early 2008.

Aurora Campus Finance and Administration Manager Doug Robertson said the construction will be done this year.

Student Services Manager Hazel Harrison and Finance and Administration Manager Doug Robertson with the building plans for the new Aurora College residence. The building is being constructed beside the Aurora Campus and is scheduled to be ready for use in January 2008. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"It will serve as a single student residence," said Robertson.

He said the building will have 30 rooms, which will fit one person per suite.

Four kitchens, a lounge area, laundry facilities and a recreation room are planned for the dormitory.

Robertson said the next-door location is convenient for students.

"It will be really good for those who live there, it's right next to the campus building," said Robertson.

Robertson added that currently all single students are living in the residences at the blueberry patch, which is located across town from the campus.

"Those are family housing units and the new setup will have the students in their own area," he said.

Robertson said that keeping the students near the campus was a priority for the planning of the residence.

"We wanted the students to be as close to the computer labs and library as possible," he said.

The residence has been in the works since 1997, said Robertson.

"We made our plans back then, but the residence was initially to be a part of the main academic building," he said.

"Because of budget restraints, it had to be set aside for the time being."

Robertson said construction should be completed in October 2007.

"It's going to be ready in the mid-term, we see ourselves moving in students in January," he said.

Robertson said the plans for the building have changed from the original design 10 years ago.

"It was a very different building originally," said Robertson.

"The two buildings were going to be much closer and connected with a catwalk."

Robertson added that the new building would not look exactly like the existing college building, but will accent it nicely.

Robertson said the costs for the new residence is near $4 million. He added that the project gained momentum a few years ago when community-based organizations got on board.

"We got local support from the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Inuvialuit Development Corporation and the Town of Inuvik," said Robertson.