NEEDS OF THE BETA HOUSE

When it comes to the chapter house, our vision is to establish it as the fraternity man’s hub for campus life. Relationships and cultures are built by spending time together, so the steering committee’s plan is to create a structure that gives our men every reason to come to the Beta house daily.

With every aspect of this plan, the focus is on building on the culture of what makes Beta exceptional. A chapter meal program calls for an expanded dining room, full kitchen upgrade, and a new serving space with all-hour access for coffee and snacks. Additional living room, TV room, and chapter room allows for gathering areas for our brothers to come together. Connecting 200 and 208 E. High Street brings the property to one and takes away a barrier that previously separated the buildings and the tenants. Finally, moving the beautiful Alpha Chapter Museum to the main house will allow more exposure and interaction with our storied heritage.

Miami University is as academically challenging as ever and the need for an enhanced, quiet, and comfortable study space within our facility is necessary. We have seen the impact of technology over the years, as devices not present during our college years are now necessities. Our plan will ensure that Beta excels academically and remains scholastic leader on campus and within the Greek system.

Across the country, the collegiate housing market is thriving and Oxford is no exception. Students identify housing and facilities as one of the top three factors when determining their school choice. No longer are we just competing with other fraternities, but we must also compete with the amenities offered in newly renovated on campus residence halls and off-campus apartments. Additionally, our Fiji neighbors completed a massive rebuild because of their recent fire and other fraternities are beginning the process of making significant investments toward upgrading their residential facilities. With a new chapter, new men and a new culture, a renovated facility is the last piece of the puzzle. While at certain times the Beta House has been the standard for fraternity living, today we are at a competitive disadvantage and we must renovate our facility to continue attracting the top incoming men.

Our fraternity home is quickly approaching 100 years old in 2018, but its age adds to its glory. Its historical significance is important to all of us. Our plan enriches all aspects of the facility, including refurbishing one of the oldest examples of unsupported circular stairways in Ohio, preserving our unique courtyard feel, relocating the Alpha Museum to the main house, and keeping 200 E. High Street as the predominate feature of the connected buildings.

However, the safety and comfort of our collegiate members are of utmost importance; we must offer a structurally sound and livable home for our undergraduate brothers. While the electrical, HVAC, windows, and plumbing systems are still functioning, they are nearing their life expectancies and must be updated to handle the projected capacity needs. The bathrooms are fatigued. Like our personal homes, our chapter house must be a haven that instills confidence in our members and their parents. Our plan addresses these infrastructure issues and creates additional bathrooms and laundry areas within the facility.

With two years of discussion and planning, the leadership of the House Company and alumni has created a response to address the challenges we face at 200 E. High Street. Through these conversations, a plan has been developed (with Tom Converse ’72 of RDI Architecture and Judith Politi of Judith Politi Design) that we believe is critical to our return and the future of Alpha. For nearly 100 years, Beta has made it her home and we are committed to ensuring it meets the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s students

Highlights

• Complete interior renovation and exterior improvements

• Preserve historical appearance

• New two-story addition

• Enclosed hallway connecting 200 and 208 E. High Street

• Retain courtyard area between buildings