May 28, 2020— Northern Kentucky University breaks ground on a new residential building, the first student housing construction on campus since 2003. The five-story, 77,200 square-foot development will fulfill a need for affordable living space at NKU.
More students are choosing to live on campus, and the project will meet the increased demand. The development will house 297 beds in a semi-suite-style. The design will help create a sense of community among residential students with large lounge areas, meeting rooms and a lighted event plaza.
“We know students who live on campus have higher retention and persistence rates, remain engaged and have a more fulfilling collegiate experience. This is an essential factor when we look at how to be a student-ready institution, and this new complex will offer more opportunities to build a community on campus,” said President Ashish Vaidya. “Especially in these uncertain times, this new construction is a welcome sign of things to come as we build the future home for our students.”
The L-shape design establishes a new focal point for the Boothe Residential Village, located along Kenton Drive. The residence hall also features dedicated study hubs and a double-sided kitchen.
“This will be a modern living and learning environment unlike traditional residence halls offered,” said Arnie Slaughter, co-interim chief Student Affairs officer and dean of Students. “We listened to the feedback from our students when we designed this building, and we think they will be pleased to see it under construction.”
About NKU: Founded in 1968, we are a growing metropolitan university of more than 15,000 students served by more than 2,000 faculty and staff on a thriving suburban campus near Cincinnati. Located in the quiet suburb of Highland Heights, Kentucky—just seven miles southeast of Cincinnati—we have become a leader in Greater Cincinnati and Kentucky by providing a private school education for a fraction of the cost. While we are one of the fastest growing universities in Kentucky, our professors still know our students' names. For more information, visit nku.edu.
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