An ecovillage, new commons and more will be in the works this summer at Elon | Today in Elon

During the summer months at Elon University, the familiar buzz of campus life is replaced by the sounds of construction as crews work hard on improvements while students are away. Several projects underway this summer will be ready for students and faculty when they return to campus in fall 2024.

An ecological community dedicated to living and learning at Loy Farm

The first phase of EcoVillage Loy Farm Living-Learning Community (LLC) will be completed this summer and will include six sustainable homes scheduled to open in fall 2024.

The LLC will offer hands-on learning opportunities through horticulture, agriculture and research at the Center for Environmental Studies. Ultimately, it will include 12 sustainable homes and a renovated ranch that will serve as communal space. Students designed the first house with Robert Charest, associate professor and head of the Department of Environmental Studies, with input from the University of Planning, Design and Construction Management. The remaining 11 houses are designed and built by external companies.

“Each of the homes was designed by a different designer who gave us their take on what sustainable living looks like, so each home has a different purpose,” said Brad Moore, vice president of facilities and chief facilities officer. “This is an educational project because the students were closely involved in the design and construction processes and now, while living in the homes, they will continue to learn first-hand about the benefits of sustainable design.”

Each home is approximately 600 square feet and includes two bedrooms, a shared bathroom and common areas. Twelve students living in the houses during the 2024-25 academic year will have the opportunity to try them out before the university begins the second phase of the project. After the 2024-25 academic year, the university will be looking for six new designers for the remaining houses.

Hook, Brannock and Barney Hall

Final renovations to the Historic Neighborhood residence halls will be completed this summer, with finishing touches to the Hook, Brannock and Barney Halls buildings. Over the past seven years, work has been completed in Sloan, West, Virginia, Smith and Carolina. This summer, crews are updating the furniture and finishes in the Hook, Brannock and Barney living rooms ahead of moving day.

“We renovated the bathroom last year, and we replaced the windows the year before,” Moore said. “To keep the building occupied throughout the school year, we had to renovate it in several stages.”

Gerald L. Francis Center

The fourth and final renovation of the Gerald L. Francis Center will be completed this summer and will include the addition of an office suite for the nursing faculty and upgrades to common areas. The building houses the Elon School of Health Sciences.

Over the past few years, the university has been updating the Francis Center, adding skills labs, classrooms, student study spaces and a cross-industry lab equipped with augmented, virtual and mixed reality technology. Previous renovations included a new entrance garden dedicated to those who have donated their bodies to science.

Common areas of the eastern neighborhood

The new East Neighborhood Commons building will be completed just in time for move-in day in fall 2024. The three-story, 45,000-square-foot building will feature 90 residential rooms (primarily for first-year students), faculty and staff housing, and office space. Common areas will also include a “forum”, a large multi-purpose room for classes, meetings and social events.

East Neighborhood Commons under construction. The area serves as a residential center for civic engagement and social innovation, where students gain greater awareness of social, cultural and political issues through interactions with faculty and staff. The East District currently has over 300 beds, but this new building will bring the district closer to the 500-600 bed capacity of other districts.

“The East Neighborhood is a dynamic place for first-year students as they begin their journey at Elon,” Moore said. “The building will provide an array of new amenities and features that will help eastern neighborhood residents become active global citizens.”

The university hopes the space will become the “eastern gateway” to the main campus, letting travelers know they have arrived at Elon.

McMichael Science Center

For the past three years, renovations have been underway at the McMichael Science Center to improve classrooms, laboratories and classrooms for the biology, chemistry and environmental science departments. This summer’s work is modernizing the main teaching laboratory. The next stage of renovation, scheduled for summer 2025, will cover the common areas of the building.

Relocation of the rope track

The Elon Challenge Course, currently located at The Lodge, is being relocated closer to the Phoenix Activity and Recreation Center (PARC). The Elon Challenge course has both high and low components and requires campus recreation and wellness coordinators. The course is scheduled to open in fall 2024.