zbt's new chapter house

www.kansan.com/news/zeta-beta-tau-breaks-ground-on-new-frate rnity-house/article_c21b82e0-cb23-11e7-9e4d-fbe813442e1a.htm l

With construction going on in the background, 39 fraternity brothers gathered for the ceremonial groundbreaking of what will become the new home of the KU chapter of Zeta Beta Tau.

Jacob Milgrim, current University junior and president of the chapter, was approached about a year ago about building the house.

“I remember coming into the frat freshman year and they said ‘ZBT’s gonna have a house’ and I said ‘when?’ and they said ‘I don’t know,’” Milgram said. “To see it coming together after really eight years of work, since 2008, was really special for me.”

The time since, he said, has been composed of working to get his fraternity brothers and their families on board. Construction began on the house in October and although only 44 people will live-in, of the current 70 member chapter, Milgrim said the process has brought them together.

“It’s been a really big bonding experience in getting everyone on board and getting everyone excited for the project,” Milgram said.

The chapter was founded in 2008 and has been working toward getting a house ever since. David Cohen, a founder of the KU Zeta Beta Tau chapter and University alumnus, said in a speech to the attending members that this house is 10 years in the making.

“To see the hole for the future home of ZBT is very emotional for me and I can’t tell you how proud I am,” Cohen said.

The house is being built at 1505 Sigma Nu Place, alongside a house for Pi Kappa Phi. Greek Housing USA bought the plot of land for both houses before picking which frats to give it to. Roger Lantz, the developer from Greek Housing USA on both houses, said that this has been a longer process than normal.

“Normally it takes us about three or four months to get the architect, the engineers and the city permit. These two houses, because of the complexity, took almost nine months," said Lantz.

Lantz said the extra time was largely due to additional requirements from the city on heating and clean energy. Both houses are expected to be completed in July of 2018 and ready for use in the 2018-19 academic year.