Michelle Leen, Staff Writer

An updated New York City loft was recently purchased by the Appalachian State University Foundation for the use of faculty and students.

“The main purpose of the loft will be a place for faculty to take his/her classes,” said Director of Instructional Technology Dr. Charles Kreszock.

“Secondly, it will provide students a place to live if they are going to be staying in the city for a long period of time, usually for an internship,” he said.

“Lastly, the loft will be for faculty doing research,” said Kreszock.

Funding for the loft will be provided by the ASU Foundation, Kreszock.

Currently the foundation is working with an architect in NYC to design a facility that will fit the needs for ASU, he said.

According to Kreszock, there will be nine rooms in the loft.

The rooms include a dining area, private bed areas, a main sleeping area by gender, and bathrooms, said Kreszock.

Renovations of the loft will be finished by mid-September, Kreszock said.
 
Following the renovations, the loft will be available for use by ASU faculty and students, he said.

Groups as well as individuals from ASU will be able to stay at the loft for $20 a night per bed, Kreszock said.

If a student has an approved internship that is part of the ASU academic program, the student will be able to receive a discounted rate based on the length of their stay, he said.

The new loft was purchased to replace the old loft that had been leased since 1974, when the program began, said Kreszock.

The new loft is twice the size of the previous one.

Situated in a residential neighborhood adjacent to a parking lot, many businesses are centrally located to the loft, Kreszock said.

From the loft, one will be able to  walk to the theater district, the East Village, and a variety of restaurants and pubs, he said.

“The loft is a wonderful asset for the university,” said Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs Jane Helm. “It will give students opportunities that most of them do not have in the Boone area,” she said.

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