By: Wisdom Harlan

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) — Driving near the Maple Hill and Reid Hall dorms may look different as construction fills the parking lot.

The site will soon be home to a new residence hall that will add 740 beds to campus. The building will feature traditional two-person, shared dorm-style rooms similar to the Hotz dorms on campus.

“We’re excited about meeting that need of growth,” said Christopher Spencer, assistant director of communications for University Housing. “It’s certainly a challenge, but it’s a better problem to have than the opposite.”

Parking in the area is expected to reopen later in the construction process. Spencer said what drivers currently see is the larger “footprint” of the project, which will shrink as the building is constructed.