DETROIT-Many decades from now a group of Wayne State University representatives will open a silvery time capsule about the size of a breadbox. Inside the securely sealed, stainless steel container they will find artifacts that provide a glimpse of life on a major urban university campus at the dawn of the 21st century.

To be buried under a marker in the courtyard of an $18 million undergraduate residence hall now under construction on the WSU campus, the capsule will contain photos depicting campus life in the early 2000s, facts about the university, a WSU Warriors hockey sweater, a brochure welcoming first-year students, a WSU telephone directory and more.

Ceremonies to place the contents into a mock capsule (the actual container is being made by a specialty company) will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept.11, at the construction site. The event will be part of WSU's Welcome Back Week festivities for students.

The new, six-story residence hall, adjacent to the David Adamany Undergraduate Library in the heart of the campus, is the first residential unit built by Wayne State since 1995. It also will be the only residential structure housing undergraduate students exclusively. The 112,000 square-foot, L-shaped building will provide housing for 370 students in 190 dormitory-style rooms.

WSU President Irvin D. Reid has emphasized the need for additional on-campus housing for students since becoming the university's chief executive in 1997. He points out that students residing on campus form the backbone of a university community.

"We know that many prospective students prefer traditional-style undergraduate housing on campus," he says. "This new residence hall will enable us to provide that environment right in the heart of campus, close to classrooms, libraries and recreational facilities. Students will have the best of both worlds: a pleasant living environment shared with their peers as well convenient access to university facilities. They will also experience the special sense of community that living on campus brings."

The new residence hall will include a cafeteria, student lounges on each floor, a laundry room and one or more retail shops. Surveys have shown that prospective students and their parents place considerable importance on services available in residence halls when choosing a college.

"We believe this new residential facility will be very attractive to freshman and sophomore students who are considering enrollment at Wayne State University," says Charles Brown, vice president for student development and campus life. "It will enhance the spirit of community, add vitality and contribute to the ambiance of our campus."

WSU Student Council President Patrick Medado says the new residence hall will be "the backbone of the renaissance of an on-campus community." He points out that two facilities especially popular with undergraduates, the WSU Recreation and Fitness Center and the Adamany Undergraduate Library, are nearby.

The majority of rooms in the residence hall are designed for double occupancy. Ten rooms will be equipped for persons with physical disabilities. Resident assistants will have private rooms.

Construction partners for the project are Turner Construction, Neumann Smith and Associates, and Einhorn Yaffe Prescott.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 14 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.