This Day in History: 1986-01-19

Pine Hall, a new dormitory at Ramapo College was opened officially.  Students began moving in for the opening of the new semester on January 21st. A welcoming dinner for the new residents was held on the 17th with Ramapo’s new President Dr. Robert A. Scott present.  Formal dedication was to take place later in the spring.  The 341 bed dormitory cost $7.3 million to build.  It had a passive solar design which was supposed to cut heating costs by 60%.  It will be used mostly by freshman students.  Each suite contained three bedrooms and bathroom facilities.  Each floor has common study areas, two lounges, and kitchenettes.  Plans were laid for the building in 1979 but approved for its construction did not begin until construction approval was gained late in 1983.  The new dormitory will mean that about 40% of the college full-time students lived on campus.  This would permit more intensive recruiting of students from South Jersey and other areas beyond normal commuting distance.  It will also permit more Bergen County residents to live on campus.  It will be offered to outside groups during the summer as a conference center.  This use was hoped to produce about $175,000 in rental income.

(Bristow)