Demolition clears way for first new UVa frat house in 50 years

Work crews demolished a 1950s-era apartment building on Madison Lane on Tuesday to clear the way for the University of Virginia’s first new fraternity house in more than 50 years.
Crews knocked down the building at 135 Madison Lane and expect to have the rubble removed in time for the new Delta Upsilon house’s groundbreaking on Saturday.

“The site’s going to have to be clean by Saturday,” quipped Jay Hoover, president of the Virginia chapter of Delta Upsilon International Fraternity. “We’ve got the mayor coming.”
The new fraternity house will have 6,825 square feet of living space on three floors. It will have 15 single bedrooms, two of which will be accessible to students with disabilities. It will have common areas for meeting, dining, studying and entertaining. And the entire house will offer amenities such as wireless Internet and central air conditioning.
Designed by Daggett + Grigg Architects, the house will be of neo-classical design and will feature brick construction, a columned two-story portico and a standing-seam metal roof. Martin Horn Inc. of Charlottesville will build the house.

Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. and will feature UVa Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Leonard W. Sandridge; Delta Upsilon’s executive director, Justin Kirk; and Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris.
Delta Upsilon members are expected to begin moving into the new house in fall 2010.