Theta Delta Chi Dartmouth

Plans for a large, four-story addition to the Theta Delta Chi fraternity house at Dartmouth are well underway. The renovation will involve a fifteen-foot wide addition to the right side of the house. The week of April 13th involved a visit from the architect, and construction is currently scheduled to start toward the end of the summer.

The renovation will expand all four stories of the house, as well as the basement, though the roofline will be a bit lower than the senior serf because of zoning issues. It will fulfill mandated fire code requirements for a second enclosed, fire-rated, means of egress -- the current fire escape is no longer considered adequate. Moreover, it will provide for handicapped access to all social spaces. The addition will also allow us to resolve the ongoing problems we have had with the bathrooms and move all the plumbing into the new addition. Some preliminary drawings are included in this newsletter and updates will be available on our website.

A new stairwell will provide a second means of egress from each floor of the existing house. On the basement level, a new handicapped accessible bathroom will be built along with a janitor's area, as well as a storage room that will house oil tanks. Between the basement and first floor, the new stairwell will also include an area that can be used in the future for a handicapped lift. Off of the existing living room on the first floor there will be a handicapped accessible bedroom and bathroom. The second floor will have a new bathroom to replace the current second floor bathroom, which will be converted into a bedroom. In addition, laundry facilities will be installed in this part of the new building. The third floor will experience similar changes, with a new bathroom replacing the current bathroom, which will in turn become an additional bedroom. The three additional bedrooms will increase the house's capacity from eighteen to twenty-one. There will be a "sunset deck" off of the stairwell on the third floor, which will face westward over the back lawn and parking lot. The addition to the attic level will provide a new study.

On behalf of the brotherhood currently residing on campus, we are excited for the new addition, and the expansion of the house. We extend our thanks to all those who have contributed the time and money necessary to make this renovation a reality. The expansion and improvement of the house will surely perpetuate the strength that defines the brotherhood of Theta Delt at Dartmouth, and the longevity of our great fraternity.