A major first step in a new housing plan at UTM begins this week with the demolition of Austin Peay Residence Hall.

The residence hall, which opened in fall 1966, has been home to thousands of university students and will be replaced with fully-furnished apartments where the current structure now stands. The new facility should be ready for occupancy by fall 2005.

The residence hall, located on Hannings Lane, will be razed in stages starting Tuesday, April 13, until the job is completed in seven to 10 days. The demolition project is being completed by Gulf Service Contracting in Mobile, Ala. The contractor has 90 days to demolish the building, dispose of the material and back fill the basement area.

The new UT Martin apartment complex is being designed by TLM of Jackson and Evans Taylor Foster Childress Architects of Memphis in a joint venture. A full-scale, furnished model of a living room, kitchen, bathroom and one bedroom is displayed for students to view in the Boling University Center.

Students will help select the decor and furnishings April 19-20 in a "furniture fair" scheduled for the UC.