The TKE house, located at 745 Nez Perce Dr. on the University of Idaho residential campus, has a total living area of 14,350 sq.ft., 19 study rooms, sleeping porch, kitchen, dining/recreation room, chapter room, 6 restrooms, weight room, storage areas and library /lounge/reception area. The transformation of this 1963 facility is based on attracting and accommodating 50-55 AGR Beta Phi undergraduates while meeting safety standards, educational needs and social activities.

In 2006, a group of AGR alumni and students toured newly renovated UI campus Greek houses and the Living Learning Center. From these tours we learned that we should use stand-alone furniture and wardrobes in the study rooms for cost reduction and flexibility. Sleeping - study suites or a separate upper class lounge and sleeping area are desirable to attract seniors to live in the house. The kitchen and bathrooms were the largest cost of the renovations. Some of the bathrooms need to meet the American Disability Act (ADA) standard and common areas need to be accessible by all members and guests. A fire safety system including sprinklers is a must.

The Alumni group visited with UI architects and three private architectural firms before interviewing two firms in 2007. The chosen firm was Associated Architects (AA) located in Moscow. The new AGR House plans were developed by AA, discussed by the Alumni and brothers living in the house, and have been amended several times.

Featured changes to the house are as follows:

1. Basement – A lighted laundry room with lockers will utilize room B-1. The room is accessible immediately from the outside and will give an area for the students to change from and into work clothes. The removal of the laundry from the second floor to the basement will permit expansion of the second floor showers.

2.Ground Floor – A housemother’s apartment is established where once there were a weight room (G-13) and a small room (G-11) with an existing bathroom. Added are a laundry area for the housemother and ADA student(s), and an ADA accessible restroom.

3. First Floor – Two senior/officer quads with sleeping- study –bathroom are developed from four study rooms. One quad will accommodate an ADA student(s). Study room 106 will be used as the executive room for Treasurer and Noble Ruler activities and meetings. For meeting fire codes the stairwell is separated from the hall and library/lounge area by fire doors.  A guest restroom is added. An enclosed entrance ADA lift on the eastside of the house will access the ground floor and first floor. Numerous alternatives to the lift were investigated. This choice was the most efficient way of connecting the two floors without loss of pantry space and of limiting unintentional mechanical damage.

4. Second Floor – The shower area will be expanded through the present laundry area and the laundry room moved to the basement.    

5.Third Floor – Added will be an insulated ceiling, two dormers on the north side of the sleeping porch for cross ventilation, and a sick room. Roofing will be replaced as well as a number of other house deficiencies e.g. kitchen, doors, windows, and fin tube radiators.