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Ground is scheduled to be broken next month on a fast-tracked project to construct a residence hall at George Fox University in Newberg.

Todd Construction and Soderstrom Architects, both based in Portland, are teaming up on the design-build project estimated to cost $6.5 million to $7 million. The three-story dorm, not yet named, will be approximately 39,000 square feet and have 150 beds, said Dan Danielson, a managing partner with Soderstrom Architects.

The new residence hall will be built on the corner of Villa Road and North Street, adjacent to the private Christian university’s Le Shana and Coffin dorms. George Fox is aiming to increase on-campus housing options and accommodate record high student enrollment.

Soderstrom Architects staffers started work on the project two and a half months ago and are designing the building on an expedited schedule in anticipation of construction starting in mid-December, Danielson said. Building plans call for a brick exterior to match the residence halls nearby.

鈥淲e’re trying to get this third one to blend in,鈥� he said.

Two existing campus buildings, the Wilhite House and Lyda House, will be torn down to make room for the new residence hall. Both buildings formerly housed graduate psychology classes, but in 2010 were converted to student housing.

The project is scheduled to be complete in time to accommodate the arrival of incoming freshmen in fall 2015.