A groundbreaking ceremony is 8 a.m. Sept. 15 to celebrate the start of construction for Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity’s first chapter house. Plans for the chapter house include a 20,000-square-foot structure designed to accommodate 60 members in residence, along with a suite for house parents. The chapter house will include a library and commons on the first floor and space for communal dining and recreation in the basement.
Construction of the three-story chapter house will be completed for the start of the 2013-2014 academic year.
The Phi Kappa Theta chapter house will be constructed directly east of the future St. Thomas Aquinas Church – Newman Center, with which it will share a large outdoor green space. The Phi Kappa Theta chapter house is designed to be fully ADA accessible, the first ADA accessible Greek house on UNL’s City Campus.
The project architect is Kevin Clark, Clark Architectural Collaborative, and construction is being completed by the Kiewit Building Group.
The Nebraska Pi chapter of Phi Kappa Theta was originally founded at UNL in 1925, but closed during the Depression. In the fall 2005, Phi Kappa Theta was restarted, embracing its founding Catholic principles, and within two years became a fully active member of Phi Kappa Theta National.
UNL’s chapter has 41 returning members and has signed an additional 17 new recruits this fall.