BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Lehigh University plans to build an all-new dormitory with a mix of 245 single and double units for first-year students.
The new 375-bed East Hills Residence Halls at 110 Mountain Drive South would be between other first-year dorms, such as McClintic-Marshall Hall, which houses 280 students at 67 University Drive, and the 131-student Drinker House residence hall at 64 Quad Drive.
Lehigh project officials presented a preliminary plan to the city Planning Commission last week.
“We’re not trying to create a complex that is so large that it overshadows what’s happening on the mountain, both from below and from the perspective of what’s happening in this neighborhood itself."Joe Klocek, Lehigh University director of planning, design and construction
“This project is intrinsic to needs that we see forthcoming because our enrollment numbers are going up,” said Joe Klocek, Lehigh’s director of planning, design and construction.
The Planning Commission only provided feedback on the plans, which was minimal, as the presented sketch plan is preliminary and comes with no official approval as of now.
Located on a 97-acre parcel that’s “sloped and ostensibly wooded” — as worded in the meeting agenda — the new 23,394-square-foot East Hills dorm would sit near the University Drive, Taylor Street and Quad Drive.
“We’re not trying to create a complex that is so large that it overshadows what’s happening on the mountain, both from below and from the perspective of what’s happening in this neighborhood itself,” Klocek said.
'A more robust project'
The project design would "step up" the mountainside, officials said, also offering elevator access for those with physical challenges to get to upper campus pathways.
The new build would include stone matching other buildings on campus.
Officials also are considering a panelized construction with a slate shingle application, hoping for a “more robust” project that’s efficient and fits the environment more tastefully than other modern buildings, Klocek said.
Project officials propose to put in a sidewalk along University Drive that heads toward Brodhead.
They also look to include improvements on University Drive, from the Taylor Street area all the way to with Sayre Drive nearby.
University Drive eventually would offer two-way access.
Officials plan to create a “loop road” going both directions on campus “to try and remove cars and conflicts with cars from the interior campus and push it to the outskirts,” Klocek said.
“By creating a two-way loop, we are able to fix a lot of the problems that we have along this pathway," he said.
"Which are primarily related to the lack of sidewalks, good crosswalks and points where students can safely traverse from what is really our residential mountain to the south down the campus to the north."
'A strong component of our city'
University and Dravo drives would be considered fire access roads, according to city officials.
Developers said they would continue working alongside the fire department to ensure proper access for apparatus as the land development process comes together.
Bethlehem encourages pervious pavers, rain gardens and native plant species to promote pollinators, city Assistant Director of Planning and Zoning Craig Peiffer said.
“Lehigh being a strong component of our city, we appreciate all the work you’ve been doing,” planning commission Chairman Rob Melosky said to project officials.
