Gonzaga University says it plans to move forward with an about $4.2 million dormitory complex on the north side of its campus.


The project will include construction of two dormitory buildings in the east 600 block of Sharp Avenue, just across that street from the recently completed Corkery Apartments student-housing complex.


The school had said earlier this year that it was mulling the dormitory project, but at that time, its board of directors hadnt decided whether to proceed, and few details were available.


Chuck Murphy, Gonzagas vice president of finance, says that pending approval of a special-use permit from the city of Spokane, the school plans to begin demolishing six university-owned houses on the building site proposed for the dormitories. He says those houses currently are used as rental units for students.


Gonzaga hopes to start construction on the two dormitory buildings in late August or early September and complete them in time for the 2002-2003 school year.


Alvin J. Wolff Inc., of Spokane, will develop the buildings for Gonzaga, and Wolfe Ballantyne Studio Architects, of Spokane, is designing the structures.


As envisioned, the twin buildings each will be three stories tall and will have 22,000 square feet of floor space. Each building will house about 90 students, and both are intended to be used by freshmen and sophomores.


Murphy says the dorms are being designed in a cluster style in which each floor will have a multipurpose areawith general lounge spaces and possibly a small kitchen areasurrounded by dorm suites. Each suite, he says, will include three bedrooms and a common area.


A Gonzaga spokesman said earlier this year that the university is looking to add more student housing to handle increasing enrollment. Last year, the school enrolled its largest freshman class ever, and it expects to enroll another large freshman class this coming fall.