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New residence opens 

First-year students fill west wing of Mother House

By Karen Herland

Over the last few weeks, the west wing of the Grey Nuns Mother House has seen an influx of first-year students move in from Ontario, the U.S., Europe and Japan.

With renovations completed in this first section to be occupied by Concordia, 227 beds (85 per cent in single rooms) have been made available for new students beginning life away from home for the first time.

“This is the best freshman dorm I’ve ever seen; it’s better than I expected,” said New Jersey transplant Rey Benjamin Quiles, who was settling in before starting the film animation program.

The summer was spent plastering, painting and ensuring that each room was properly wired for internet and phone service. Security measures were upgraded and everything was brought up to code. New commercial-grade furniture was commissioned and installed throughout the space.

The result is large bright rooms arranged along a series of halls (each painted a different Crayola colour). Bedrooms are interspersed with common rooms and shower facilities for the new arrivals.

The weeks leading up to classes were programmed with information sessions, tours of the city and organized trips to that student standby, Ikea.

The physical changes were mostly cosmetic, but the residence is temporary. A permanent residence construction is currently being planned. Eventually, the Mother House will be occupied by the Fine Arts faculty.

But in the interim, the rooms (available from $435 to $560 a month for a nine-month lease, with activity fees, fridge rental and meal plans extra) are operating at capacity. Concordia has increased the number of beds available since 2006 from 147 to the current 426. All the other beds are located at Loyola, in Hingston Hall and the former Jesuit residence that was refurbished for students last year.

Residence space is only available to first-year students who live at least 50 km away.