The Zeta chapter of Kappa Delta was the first sorority on the University of Alabama’s campus, and the longest continuously-running chapter in the nation. An interesting fact about this Kappa Delta chapter is that it was founded in the basement of the President’s Mansion, so there is a lot of history behind these doors.
Recently, Kappa Delta moved into their beautiful new house on campus. The new KD chapter house stands on the same location as the original house, and this factor was very important to alumnae and current members. The University agreed to let KD keep their original location, and allowed them to acquire a HES design building in order to expand their current lot for the space they needed.
Two years were spent on the pre-planning of the new Kappa Delta chapter house. KD’s House Corporation, Architect Barganier Davis Sims Architect Associated and mother-daughter alumnae team Mary Ruth Caldwell and Lisa Caldwell Flake of Caldwell Flake Interiors all worked together for the vision for the new KD house to come to life.
The construction of the KD chapter house began in May 2014, and was completed by July 2015; just in time for recruitment to start. KD’s 40,000-square-foot house is gorgeous with four floors that include a formal dining room, kitchen, lounging areas for the members, study rooms and bedrooms. Each bedroom has a different layout ranging from single, double and triple rooms, which in total sleeps 64 girls.
The main floor of the KD house includes two large living rooms with flat-screen TVs, one casual den with a TV and surround sound, a dining room with TVs, a commercial-sized serving kitchen with lots of snacks and meals and a large covered back porch with two flat-screen TVs.
On the second and third floors you will find 14 double bedrooms, two single bedrooms, one guest bedroom, access to the elevator, a large den with a flat-screen TV and lots of seating. There is also a study room, state-of-the-art bathrooms and a laundry room.
All of the bedrooms include spacious built-in closets and dressers, full-length sofas, and TV mounts that are at the foot of each bed with the ability to use Apple TV. Each bedroom also has a common area that can be closed off from the sleeping area of the bedroom.
“As President, it is such an honor to be a part of the first group of girls to live in our new house. It has allowed our chapter to grow not only in size, but also in character,” Kappa Delta president, Carlton Middlekauff, said. “This house has provided our members with a place to create relationships that will last a lifetime, promote leadership and provide a home away from home. This house has been a blessing to me and I know it will serve as a blessing to many future KD’s for years to come."
