At noon on Saturday, April 25, 2026, Lambda Iota graduate and undergraduate brothers gathered to celebrate and dedicate the Lyles Addition to 640 Russell Street. The space covers the old parking lot which will be relocated south on what was previously a sand volleyball court.
The addition’s first floor includes a large living room, the Doc Crowder Library, upgraded and modernized dining facilities, and several restrooms. The lower level includes a large recreational space, a mechanical area, an expanded and modernized laundry room, and additional restrooms.
The Miller Academic House (formerly known as the Ludy House) remains an important study area and a well-used building thanks to the generosity of Bill Miller. It has been recently updated and a very popular sport court added at the rear of the property.
The expansion provides a more comfortable setting and modernizes the structure of the house, which has remained static for the last half-century. We now own the entire West half of the 600 block and have created in effect a Phi Gam campus with the original chapter house, the addition, first class parking area, the Miller Academic House and a Sports court –all landscaped as one.
Present at the event were major donors, undergraduates, House Corporation officers, and others who have worked hard for the last decade on this important revitalization of the fraternity house we all loved.
The addition is named in honor of Jerry Lyles, who has been extremely generous and a steadfast supporter of the project. Without Jerry, the decade of land acquisition and expansion would not have been possible.
The entrance of the addition was dedicated in honor of Bob Swinehart, who worked tirelessly on the planning, design, and fundraising. Bob truly demonstrated persistence and worked continuously over the past decade to make the project a reality.
The dining area was dedicated to the Class of ’75, who had the highest percentage of donors and boldly challenged other pledge classes to contribute. The class was led by major donor Marty Pickett.
Long-time supporter and truly an important brother in this and previous renovation projects, Keith Brown (‘74) was present, and the living room in the house was named in his honor. Keith has truly made an impact on our ability to upgrade the quality of the house.
Brother Bill Kassling could not be present, but the kitchen and upgraded serving and night kitchen facilities are now named in his honor. Bill was always there when assistance was needed and served on the fund-raising committee.
The undergraduate classes of 2027 and 2028 were recognized for their patience as construction consumed the entire academic year and impacted their utilization of the existing house. The laundry room and purple room will be dedicated to those classes.
Sheil Sexton Construction, led by CEO and brother Mike Dilts (’79), and Cameron O’Connor were recognized for their generosity, dedication to the house, and years-long support.
A plaque will be placed in the addition recognizing all the donors who helped fund and/or assist with the project along with the house corporation officers and fundraising committees;
We should all be proud of this accomplishment as we have pulled off an $11 million project and have only a modest $1.2 million debt to retire. There are still naming opportunities as the need for financial help to pay down the mortgage continues. All brothers are encouraged to visit in the fall and experience the vibe of the new addition and Phi Gam campus while connecting with those who helped make this a reality.
Check out all the pictures from the day here!