A student housing project at Bethany College in Lindsborg is underway.

Increasing enrollment at the school has caused officials to scramble for accomodations. The school is leasing space at two nearby motels, the Coronado Motel and the Viking Motel, for student housing.

A more long-term solution is a new residence hall. That project began this week. According to the school, demolition began Tuesday.

Deere Hall, a former residence hall that originally housed 170 students and was vacated in 2007, will be torn down for the new construction. It is located on the northwest corner of Bethany’s campus. Deere Hall was completed in 1958 and a second wing was added in 1962. It was named for Emil O. Deere a professor and dean of the college.  

In its assessment of the project, college staff determined that it would not be feasible to remodel the former residence hall due to capacity limitations as well as costs associated with remodeling versus demolition.

Bethany’s plan is to “intentionally and strategically overbuild”. Since the new dorm facility will be larger than initially needed it can be used to house students from other residence halls, giving the school an opportunity to take those buildings offline, renovating and updating them.

The new building will house 200 to 250 students and is expected to be completed by fall 2015.