Sigma Chi - Montana State University

…move the house to a closer location to campus? • Currently, Beta Rho occupies five lots (~27,000 square feet) 14 blocks from the student Union. - 35-minute walk/15-minute bike ride/5-minute car ride • No side-by-side lots are available any closer to campus for the required 27,000 square feet. - Parking would be a significant issue with any lots considered with less than 27,000 square feet. • Obtaining a building permit from the city would be a problem and we would expect significant resistance from the neighbors to purchase the lots and build a fraternity house on the lot. • Fraternity Row has been considered; however, MSU has plans for those lots and Greek housing is no longer available. …build a new facility in the same location? • Beta Rho has received quotes from two contractors to tear down the current house and build a new house with the same square footage and number of bedrooms. e quoted cost was $3.5-$4 million, nearly twice the cost of the remodel option. • Obtaining a building permit from the city would be a problem for a new house as opposed to a major renovation, and we would expect significant resistance from the neighbors. • e structure of the current house has been reviewed by our architect and is solid for the next 50 years with the proposed remodel. …leave the house as is? • Premier housing with the design and comfort of the 21st century is a high priority for today's Bobcat students. While so many traditions and values remain, today's students' needs are different than they were 40 or 50 years ago. As Beta Rho envisions the next 100 years, we must make a major investment in our facility to ensure it remains: SAFE - With its age, the Beta Rho house is plagued with wiring, plumbing, and safety features that are out of date. Central to this are fire sprinklers, fire-rated doors, and a need to be fully compliant with building code. Our undergraduate brothers' safety is our chief concern and, notably, there has never been a death in a fraternity house that has a fire sprinkler system. COMPETITIVE - e past eight years have seen an incredible momentum shi for Beta Rho as the chapter is now the largest on campus with the second-best GPA. With other fraternities recently taking on major improvement projects, including Pi Kappa Alpha, Alpha Gamma Rho, and Kappa Sig, we must not just match the status quo but be able to offer a better option to attract top Bobcat students. SUSTAINABLE - With a nearly 50-year-old house comes increased costs due to energy inefficiency from aged components. e vision for the Beta Rho house includes an effort to replace windows, insulation, HVAC, and appliances among many other improvements. is will result in more efficient systems and help offset the increasing cost of utilities in the future. T he Beta Rho of Sigma Chi House Company has engaged alumni, the University, an architect and a structural engineering firm to evaluate the best option for the future of the Beta Rho house. Based on these inputs, the practical decision has been made to remain in the current Beta Rho home full of history and memories for so many alumni and engage a contractor to initiate a major renovation to modernize our home. FAQ Why not… THE BETA RHO HOUSE A Cornerstone in the Sigma Chi Experience

• Cover