As students moved in across campus Friday, trucks, bulldozers and workers moved out, leaving West Campus, for the first time, free of all construction.

President David Skorton, who donned a hard hat and climbed behind the wheel of a departing bulldozer, expressed his delight that the construction schedule had been accelerated so that all five buildings are ready for students, with four of them offering full residential house programs for the new academic year.

"Whenever I visit one of the West Campus residential houses, I come away more convinced than ever that our decision to integrate living and learning in the undergraduate experience has made a real difference in the lives of our students and faculty," said Skorton.

"What an exciting day for Cornell students," said Isaac Kramnick, the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, who was an early advocate of the house concept offering Cornell undergraduate students the option to live in close proximity to faculty and take advantage of intellectual and cultural offerings. "Two years earlier than we had ever thought the construction of the new houses would take, the undergraduate experience for Cornellians in the 21st century is here," he declared.

Each of the houses bears the name of a prominent former Cornell faculty member. Alice Cook House opened in 2004; Carl Becker House in 2005; Hans Bethe House in 2007. William T. Keeton House admitted its first residents in August, and the final, yet-to-be-named house, will open in fall 2009. Adjacent to the houses is the new Noyes Community Recreational Center.

The university accelerated construction on the $225 million building project to keep ahead of inflation. From 2001 to 2008, total West Campus construction costs rose from $219 per gross square foot, or $102,000 per bed, to $293 per gross square foot, or $136,000 per bed. Even so, the complex was completed within budget -- a nearly unheard-of feat for a project of its scope and scale.

Edna Dugan, assistant vice president for student and academic services and a fellow at Becker House, has worked on the project for several years. "I am tremendously pleased and grateful for all those who have worked on the West Campus House System," Dugan said. "To see Isaac Kramnick's vision for transforming the undergraduate experience at Cornell coming to life is, in a word, thrilling. This is a moment to savor."

Susan Murphy, vice president for student and academic services, who led construction efforts, said it was "inspiring to see how the entire site comes together as a community while preserving the unique identity of each house."

Murphy, who also waved to students from atop a bulldozer, noted, "This project has and will continue to transform the undergraduate experience at Cornell because of the programs that are held in these wonderful spaces. Our house deans have made the most of this new complex to create and bring to their communities thought-provoking, challenging and fun events that make the house system the special place that it is."

However, funding for the project, which comes from university and private support, is not complete. Read more about the West Campus House System here: http://residential.alumni.cornell.edu/.