Chapter House Renovation News
The Louisville chapter continues to rent a house
on Greek Row. We have called this same house home since 1971. Our usage
of the house changed dramatically effective December 31, 2005. Because
our house is not equipped with sprinklers, the University will no
longer allow people to live in the structure; however, we may continue
to use it as the base of operations for the fraternity.
The Alumni Board has been working on housing
issues with the other Greek Organizations along Greek Row for several
years, so this change was not a shock or something coming out of left
field. The University is just trying to make living conditions safer
for all students. Triangle agrees and supports that effort.
Fortunately, we have good news to share too…
After many years of having an annual lease, the
University has offered the Greek Organizations long –term leases.
Triangle is very close to signing our long-term lease, which when
signed will continue through June 2040.
In exchange for getting long-term use of the
houses on Greek Row, the University of Louisville is requiring the
Greek Organizations to make improvements ot the house, at our own
expense, based on the recommendations of a local
architectural-engineering firm. Each group must alos install sprinklers
in the house, which will then make the houses habitable for students
again.
As we have reported in a past issue of The Pyramid,
Triangle will be required to gut and fully renovate the interior of the
house. The improvements must include a sprinkler system, an approved
fire alam system, and ADA access as required by law.
Ultimately, Triangle would like to add bedrooms to
he house, install air conditioning, and increase the usable common
space within the house. The added common space would allow the active
chapter to have an office area, study space, meeting space (they
currently meet in a classroom on campus), a more usable kitchen and
more bathroom facilities for guests and residents. The Alumni Board has
recently been working with an architect who is developing concept
drawings for us. We expect to finalize our plans in the next few months.
We’ll keep you posted on our progress and share the final design as soon as we have it!