Skapto III Expansion on Track: Concrete Phase Complete

The AUBG community has been watching the rise of the two new wings of Skaptopara III, and the project has hit major milestones. Let us take a look at some key updates on the status of the building. 

 

According to Residence Life Director, Ilko Drenkov, the construction is proceeding "perfectly with the timeline." A major phase of the project is already finished. "I can share with you that the concrete part is completed," Drenkov confirmed. The next goal is to complete the building's exterior, including windows, insulation, and painting. "I hope [it will be] completed by December," the Residence Life Director stated. 

 

Following that, the focus will shift to the interior, with all the details being worked on from January through May. For students curious about the project's adherence to its schedule, Drenkov offered a simple way to check: "If there are delays, all of us will notice the workers doing some construction work on the weekends. If the weekends are calm, everything is perfect."

 

Once completed, the new wings in Skapto III will significantly increase housing capacity, adding 310 beds to the Residence Hall. The expansion includes 30 single rooms and 280 beds in double rooms. Drenkov also noted a small bonus: "We will have two more beds" because the Residence Hall Director's office will move from a converted student room into a proper office in the new wing.

 

This capacity increase is central to a major goal for Residence Life: rebalancing the on-campus community. Drenkov hopes the expansion will be an "inspirational milestone" to "re-establish the good community spirit." The Residence Hall Director stated that the "best result will be the possibility to accommodate more juniors and seniors." Drenkov highlighted that currently, only 4% of on-campus residents are juniors and seniors, and that the plan is to increase this figure to 20-25% after the expansion.

 

Students can look forward to several new amenities. The most significant is a long-awaited addition: "The good news... there will be a new laundry in the Skapto III basement," Drenkov announced. Starting in Fall 2026, all three residence halls will have their own washing facilities. Additionally, four new social rooms will be added in the new Block B, located just behind the lifts. They will provide more common space similar to the existing "bubbles." The basements under the new wings will be prioritized for car and bike parking, while the new laundry will be housed in the existing Block A basement.

 

To accommodate the growing student population, additional staff will be hired. According to Drenkov, the Residence Life team will grow from five to six members, and the number of Resident Assistants (RAs) will rise from the current 32 to 40. 

 

Drenkov acknowledged the "noise, disturbance, and that machinery noise", and expressed his gratitude for students' understanding. "I am happy that there is a lot of understanding and patience," the Residence Life Director said. "So, apologies and thank you," he concluded. 

 

 

Edited by Kaloyan Ivanov and Hary Dikov