 Ratio Architect's rendering of the new chapter house for Sigma Chi (photo courtesy of Ratio) |
The Fraternity Partnerships are an innovative series of programs in which fraternity alumni, through their housing corporations, generate gifts to the College’s campaign, which are matched by College funds. Wabash will spend more than $20 million on fraternity construction and renovation projects over the life of the partnerships.
Approximately two-thirds of all Wabash students choose to join fraternities.
The Sigma Chi fraternity house, currently on the corner of Crawford Street and West Wabash Avenue, will be replaced with a new chapter house. The new structure will be situated immediately west of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house on West Wabash Avenue. Construction of the $3.56 million project will begin immediately.
Demolition of two College-owned residences already is underway in preparation for construction. Brandt Construction, Inc. will serve as general contractors for the project, which is expected to take approximately 40 weeks. Brandt supervised all renovations to the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity renovation project just over a year ago.
The Sigma Chi roject will be fast-tracked so that undergraduates will be able to move into the new chapter house at the start of school next fall. After demolition of the existing homes, crews hope to grade the space and create parking facilities from which contractors will operate.
“We’re hoping for a dry fall so that we can stay on a pretty tight schedule,” said Craig Bell, director of campus services at Wabash. “And we hope to be good neighbors to those who live near our construction site.
Timing is indeed critical. After the Sigma Chis have moved into their new home next fall, members of Phi Gamma Delta will use as temporary housing the old Sigma Chi house while their own house on the corner of Jefferson and Grant is renovated.
Alumni volunteers have been key to the Fraternity Partnerships says Cal Black, a member of the Advancement Office who oversees the partnership program.
“These projects require a large number of alumni volunteers, from overall management of the program to fund raising and facilities,” says Black.
Current Wabash trustees Tom Emmick and Fred Ruebeck, along with former trustee Rem Johnston, are chairing the “Luster of the Gold” project. Jim Knoop, with help from Bob Russell, are managing the fund raising operation, while David Olsen, president of the housing corporation, and local alumnus Herm Haffner, are handling the facilities end of the partnership.
For more information, please contact:
Ryan McMillan, Wabash Campus Services (765) 361-6383; Cal Black, Advancement Office/Fraternity Partnerships (765) 361-6244; Jim Amidon, Director of Public Affairs and Marketing (765) 361-6364