Four existing living centers on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus have been renamed after the construction of a new building in Robinson Field began.

The old Icie Macy Hoobler Living Center was torn down to accommodate the new building. North B is now the new Icie Macy Hoobler Living Center. In addition to North B, North A, West A and West B have been renamed. North A is now the Ella-Koeze Weed Living Center, West A is the Paul A. Johnson Living Center and West B is now the Arnold C. Ott Living Center.

The original Johnson, Weed and Ott buildings have also been renamed. The old Paul A. Johnson living center is now the Maple Living Center, the old Arnold C. Ott Living Center is now the Oak Living Center and the old Ella-Koeze-Weed Living Center has been renamed to the Pine Living Center. The name of the new building is yet to been determined.

“The decision (to rename) was made to continue to honor the former Board of Trustees members with a newer and larger living center,” said Andrew Beachnau, director of housing. “The existing buildings were renamed for trees: Maple, Oak and Pine.”

Those specific trees are representative of GVSU because they are native species to the Grand River ravines.

Beachnau, associate vice provost for student affairs, is responsible for housing and residence life, the Campus Health Center, Children’s Enrichment Center and also for Campus Recreation.

James Moyer, associate vice president of facilities planning, explained how the process of renaming proceeded and who was involved.

“The renaming was initially considered due to the proposed construction of the new housing that is now under construction,” Moyer said. “One of the original living centers was being removed as part of the construction project. And that removal freed the name.”

Moyer also talked about how the new building names also had to get recommendations and approval before they were finalized.

“Initial recommendations were made by the housing office,” Moyersaid. “Final recommendations were approved by the Board of Trustees.”

Moyer has been with GVSU since 1996 and is responsible for space planning, building and land development. He said the choice to rename the new building under construction will “be made close to the completion date.”

The new building, set to be finished in August 2016, is budgeted to cost $37 million and will span 145,000 square feet. It will not only be a living center, but will also be an academic building. It is east of Mackinac Hall and sits where Robinson Field was. It will include three classrooms and three offices for faculty, a computer lab, a media room and a multi-purpose room. In addition to the non-living areas, the building will also include traditional-style rooms that will house nearly 500 students. The building will include an outdoor area, a laundry room, plenty of study and lounge spaces and a game room. Einstein Bros. Bagels will move from its current location to the new building, closer to its completion.