Take a look inside the new $13 million Phi Mu sorority house at the University of Alabama (2024)

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The brand new39,444-square-foot Phi Mu sorority house (Alpha Zeta chapter) opened along Colonial Drive in July 2016. It stands on virtually the same exact spot the old house previously occupied. The overall cost for the project was $12,992,855, which came in under budget. Take a look inside the brand new facility, which houses 68 women from the sorority whose current chapter class stands at 436.

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A look at the previous Phi Mu house in 2013, prior to construction.

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During construction, Phi Mu members temporary lived in this existing sorority house on Magnolia Drive.

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Those who served on the house Rebuilding Committee included: Pat Howard (House Corp.), Joyce Whetstone, Audra Browder, Lori Colburn and Lee Schwartzenburg. "It was an outstanding group," Schwartzenburg said. "Our designer Krissy Bunn was awesome and always met with us from the beginning."

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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To give a little perspective, there's a UA Crimson Ride bus passing the front of the new house, which some describe as "The old house on steroids." That's Tutwiler Hall behind it on the right.

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"We wanted a grand foyer -- All white, simple and clean," said designer (from Lampadas Design in Tuscaloosa) and Phi Mu alumnae initiate Krissy Bunn. She said they wanted to "keep the feel" of the previous house, mirroring the basic layout starting with the front hall area. "We wanted it open, not a lot of clutter."

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They found the foyer's glistening chandelier Hal Hunt Auctions. It originally came fromThe Waldorf Astoria New York hotel in the 1930s. Bunn said while the piece was initially very dusty and needed serious refurbishing, "I knew it's what we wanted." They sent it to Virginia to be re-wired, cleaned and brought up to code. "It turned out perfect."

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The chandelier hangs from an impressively designed barbed quatrefoil in the ceiling, the official Phi Mu symbol.

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A look at the foyer staircase.

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Another look at the foyer from the staircase.

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The baby grand piano in the foyer is in commemoration of Alpha Zeta chapter's 75th anniversary, marked by the pledge classes of 2003-2006.

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Another look at the foyer.

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A look at the second floor and balcony.

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A look at the grand piano from above.

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Take a right, and you enter the hallway that leads to the formal living room area.

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The previous house's door knocker found a home in the hallway between the foyer and formal living room.

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Formal Living Room. They used virtually every piece of furniture they had in the old house, while adding to it to fill the enormous space of the new one.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Dining Room. The oval tables, some of which were re-finished, came from the old house, mixed with custom-made 60-inch round tables. It features all new Chippendale-style dining chairs and "very simple lighting." The dining room can seat 200.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Dining Room. The oval tables, some of which were re-finished, came from the old house, mixed with custom-made 60-inch round tables. It features all new Chippendale-style dining chairs and "very simple lighting." The dining room can seat 200.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Dining Room. The oval tables, some of which were re-finished, came from the old house, mixed with custom-made 60-inch round tables. It features all new Chippendale-style dining chairs and "very simple lighting." The dining room can seat 200.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Patio. "Everything out here is new," Bunn said, as they used Birmingham businesses like Summer Classics and Elegant Earth to furnish the outside. The covered area is used for lounging and studying, complete with televisions, a sound system and ceiling fans. Bunn said it was also partially designed for gameday overflow from the dining area. The uncovered area has a courtyard feel meant for dining and studying, including a fountain.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Patio. "Everything out here is new," Bunn said, as they used Birmingham businesses like Summer Classics and Elegant Earth to furnish the outside. The covered area is used for lounging and studying, complete with televisions, a sound system and ceiling fans. Bunn said it was also partially designed for gameday overflow from the dining area. The uncovered area has a courtyard feel meant for dining and studying, including a fountain.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Patio. "Everything out here is new," Bunn said, as they used Birmingham businesses like Summer Classics and Elegant Earth to furnish the outside. The covered area is used for lounging and studying, complete with televisions, a sound system and ceiling fans. Bunn said it was also partially designed for gameday overflow from the dining area. The uncovered area has a courtyard feel meant for dining and studying, including a fountain.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Patio. "Everything out here is new," Bunn said, as they used Birmingham businesses like Summer Classics and Elegant Earth to furnish the outside. The covered area is used for lounging and studying, complete with televisions, a sound system and ceiling fans. Bunn said it was also partially designed for gameday overflow from the dining area. The uncovered area has a courtyard feel meant for dining and studying, including a fountain.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Patio. "Everything out here is new," Bunn said, as they used Birmingham businesses like Summer Classics and Elegant Earth to furnish the outside. The covered area is used for lounging and studying, complete with televisions, a sound system and ceiling fans. Bunn said it was also partially designed for gameday overflow from the dining area. The uncovered area has a courtyard feel meant for dining and studying, including a fountain.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Patio. "Everything out here is new," Bunn said, as they used Birmingham businesses like Summer Classics and Elegant Earth to furnish the outside. The covered area is used for lounging and studying, complete with televisions, a sound system and ceiling fans. Bunn said it was also partially designed for gameday overflow from the dining area. The uncovered area has a courtyard feel meant for dining and studying, including a fountain.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Informal Living Room. To the left as you walk into the foyer, this area is designed for studying, lounging and watching television throughout the semester. Considered a more quiet space, featuring local art and flowers.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Informal Living Room. To the left as you walk into the foyer, this area is designed for studying, lounging and watching television throughout the semester. Considered a more quiet space, featuring local art and flowers.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Informal Living Room. To the left as you walk into the foyer, this area is designed for studying, lounging and watching television throughout the semester. Considered a more quiet space, featuring local art and flowers.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Informal Living Room. To the left as you walk into the foyer, this area is designed for studying, lounging and watching television throughout the semester. Considered a more quiet space, featuring local art and flowers.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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An orchid in the informal living room.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Second floor lounge. For hanging out and studying.

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Second floor lounge. For hanging out and studying.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Second floor lounge. For hanging out and studying.

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Second floor lounge. For hanging out and studying.

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Third Floor Senior Lounge. Designed for hanging out and studying. Seniors mostly use this area, which opens to the third floor balcony, but it's open to all members.

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Third Floor Senior Lounge. Designed for hanging out and studying. Seniors mostly use this area, which opens to the third floor balcony, but it's open to all members.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Third Floor Senior Lounge. Designed for hanging out and studying. Seniors mostly use this area, which opens to the third floor balcony, but it's open to all members.

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Third Floor Balcony. The top balcony has plenty of furniture for seating and serves as a great gameday spot, as it overlooks the exterior of Bryant-Denny Stadium along Bryant and Colonial Drives.

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Third Floor Balcony. The top balcony has plenty of furniture for seating and serves as a great gameday spot, as it overlooks the exterior of Bryant-Denny Stadium along Bryant and Colonial Drives.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Third Floor Balcony. The top balcony has plenty of furniture for seating and serves as a great gameday spot, as it overlooks the exterior of Bryant-Denny Stadium along Bryant and Colonial Drives. You also get a great look at the top of the buildings Corinthian columns.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Courtyard. The courtyard sits on the corner of Bryant and Colonial Drives, across from Tutwiler Hall and Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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Courtyard. The courtyard sits on the corner of Bryant and Colonial Drives, across from Tutwiler Hall and Bryant-Denny Stadium.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Courtyard. The courtyard sits on the corner of Bryant and Colonial Drives, across from Tutwiler Hall and Bryant-Denny Stadium.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Basem*nt. Sorority composites line the walls of the basem*nt.

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Basem*nt. Right outside the elevator, this hallway leads to a conference room as well as the enormous chapter room.

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Chapter Room. The enormous space hosts chapter meetings, dance practice and other events and also serves as a storm shelter.

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Chapter Room. The enormous space hosts chapter meetings, dance practice and other events and also serves as a storm shelter.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Chapter Room. The enormous space hosts chapter meetings, dance practice and other events and also serves as a storm shelter.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Chapter Room. The enormous space hosts chapter meetings, dance practice and other events and also serves as a storm shelter.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Chapter Room. The enormous space hosts chapter meetings, dance practice and other events and also serves as a storm shelter.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Study Lounge. This study lounge downstairs has a comfortable seating area as well as work spaces for group projects.

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Study Lounge. This study lounge downstairs has a comfortable seating area as well as work spaces for group projects.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Study Lounge. This study lounge downstairs has a comfortable seating area as well as work spaces for group projects.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Study Lounge. This study lounge downstairs has a comfortable seating area as well as work spaces for group projects.

(Ben Flanagan/AL.com)

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Construction began on the house in January 2015. The old house was razed that month, while the women moved into the new house in late July 2016.

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Take a look at all of the Alabama sorority houses, old and new.

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Get to know all 22 of the University of Alabama's sororities.

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