The Issue Facing the Kappa House on Prospect

Why the Kappa House on Prospect Needs Ongoing Care

Before 2016, the Beta Upsilon House Board kept a healthy reserve, a “war chest,” for repairs and emergencies. The major renovations that year used most of those savings. Since then the house has kept aging, and the cost of maintaining an 80-plus-year-old building has kept rising.

Some problems could not wait. The roof was failing and the dormers had decayed. Floor joists beneath the second-floor showers needed to be secured. The dining room ceiling below them needed repair. Each of these was a summer-only project, so a short fall in fundraising could delay a fix by a full year.

Balancing history and safety

The house must stay true to its history while meeting the safety standards and technology needs of today’s students. Wiring, plumbing, fire safety and internet service all look very different than they did in 1939.

Rebuilding the Kappa House on Prospect Reserve

The Kappa House on Prospect Capital Campaign set a goal of $500,000 so the House Board could:

• Plan capital improvements and regular maintenance on a schedule instead of in a crisis
• Be prepared when emergencies arise
• Retire debt
• Keep the house a safe, gracious home for collegiate members

When the campaign began, only about 11% of Beta Upsilon’s nearly 1,700 alumnae had given. The campaign grew to more than 300 donors, but every additional sister who gives makes the next repair easier. See what has been done on Improvements.