Hartford Business Journal

16 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | August 29, 2022 Arms Race In competition for top student talent, UConn eyes overhaul of on-campus housing with more modern amenities By Robert Storace rstorace@hartfordbusiness.com A s UConn faces the reality that a majority of its on-campus housing is decades-old, the state's flagship university has plans to demolish and renovate at least a half-dozen residence halls, and would like to bring more housing to its other campuses, including possibly its Hartford branch. Two major projects are already in the works. UConn's Board of Trustees recently approved a $215- million investment in a new 657-bed South Campus Residence Hall that is expected to open in 2024. It will feature suite living units and a 500-seat dining hall. Also planned is the redevelopment of the 1940s-era Mansfield Apart- ments on South Eagleville Road, into a more modern living complex featuring 800 to 850 rental units. School officials say building new, modern residential facilities will be key to attracting top student talent, as colleges across the U.S. continue to embark on an amenities arms race with new construction and reno- vation projects, which some have criticized for driving up the cost of higher education. UConn houses between 65% and 70% of its undergraduate students on campus each year, one of the highest on-campus residency rates in the nation, school officials said. Its fall 2021 enrollment was 32,669 students, with plans to increase that number in the years ahead, even as colleges nationwide face the prospect of a declining customer base amid America's changing demographics. "UConn has risen through the ranks and has become a more well-known institution, not just in the state or regionally, but nationally and interna- tionally," said Laura Cruickshank, UConn's associate vice presi- dent and master plan and chief architect. "Housing – and housing for undergraduate students – is an important part of being a great univer- sity. With these (housing projects) I think we are very much on the path to become even better and to live up to being the state's flagship university." Student input In planning for the next generation of residence facilities, UConn officials said student input was a key part of the process. In fact, 2,510 students, or about 11% of the entire student body, responded to an April 2020 housing survey, in many cases confirming what the university already knew, said Michael Gilbert, UConn's vice president of student affairs. "The feedback was very strong," Gilbert said. "The outcome of the survey informed our work and the opportunities and initiatives we're considering." What do students want? Gilbert said the consensus was that most respondents wanted modern attractive housing with many ameni- ties and a large dining area. They also prefer apartments (like Mansfield will have) and suite-style housing (like South Campus will have), followed by private rooms coming in third, he said. Both South Campus and Mansfield Apartments will be air conditioned, have large dining rooms and intimate and friendly public spaces where students can gather, socialize or study, Gilbert said. Martin Van Der Werf, director of editorial and education policy at Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce, said residence halls in general can be the deciding factor for some students when picking a college or university. Laura Cruickshank oversees UConn's construction and development pipeline, which includes several new residence facilities. HBJ PHOTO | STEVE LASCHEVER BY THE NUMBERS A breakdown of UConn facilities 444 The number of buildings and other structures on UConn's Storrs campus. 12 million The approximate gross square footage of UConn facilities in Storrs. 6 million Gross square footage in build- ings older than 40 years. 4.3 million Gross square footage in buildings at least 40 years old that have been modernized or renovated at least once since original construction. Source: UConn "When you think about going to school and how much time you spend in the classroom and your dorm room and the food hall, you will spend a lot more time in the dorm room and

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