Student housing facilities open on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Two new residence halls – Griffin Residence Hall North and Meredith Residence Hall South – have opened on the Purdue University West Lafayette campus. The two new residence halls have been delivered on time and on budget through a public-private partnership (P3) agreement.

“Getting a project of this scale from idea to opening is a complex process, and I am very pleased with the value created through this delivery method,” said Jay Wasson, associate vice president for Purdue Physical Facilities. “The successful delivery of this project in today’s environment is a direct result of the dedication and teamwork of all of the project partners.”

As previously announced, the University selected Plenary Properties Purdue LLC as the project developer through a Request for Proposals process. The project team includes Plenary, Corvias, Gilbane Building Co., MSKTD & Associates, Mackey Mitchell Architects, Schneider Corp., MKSK and Applied Engineering.

“Using a P3 to deliver these two new residence halls enabled our team to be innovative and flexible through project design and construction, taking into account the long-term maintenance and operations of the buildings,” said Brian Budden, president and CEO of Plenary. “On behalf of the entire Plenary Properties Purdue team, we are incredibly proud of the collaborative effort demonstrated throughout this project, and we look forward to our continued relationship with the University.”

Corvias founder John Picerne said, “At our core, we help solve our partners’ challenges, and this P3 has exemplified that from the establishment of the team, the successful collaboration and execution over the past two years and now the long-term operation and management of the new facilities.”  

Consisting of suites and semi-suites, Griffin Residence Hall North is located adjacent to the Black Cultural Center along North Russell Street. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) Download image

Griffin Residence Hall North

Griffin Residence Hall North is located north of the Purdue Black Cultural Center on North Russell Street. This facility has suites and semi-suites and a capacity for 570 beds. In addition to living areas, Griffin Hall North has ample study space, and the ground floor features a private apartment for the Executive-in-Residence program. It will be the second apartment for the popular program, now in its sixth year, when distinguished alumni return to campus to mentor students.  

Meredith Residence Hall South

Meredith Residence Hall South is located south of the existing Meredith Residence Hall and north of First Street. This facility houses 730 beds with a mix of triple, double and single-occupancy rooms arranged around a centralized bathroom and lounge area. This style of housing allows students to live, collaborate and study with peers who are pursuing the same courses of study. Meredith South was designed as an all-female, STEM-focused student living facility.

“Meredith South will be home to the Women in Engineering, Women in Technology, Women in Science and Women in Agriculture Learning Communities. We engaged with the instructors of these learning communities early on in the construction process, and we’re excited to see how they will utilize this new space to support their students,” said Barb Frazee, assistant vice provost for student life for University Residences and Purdue Dining & Culinary. 

The two new buildings add 1,300 beds to the University’s on-campus housing offerings, and both halls will be full for the 2020-2021 academic year. In order to be operational for the start of the fall semester, both facilities have been reviewed as part of the University’s efforts to de-densify living spaces, and adjustments have been made to meet these new standards.

In addition to the living areas, the residence halls will also be home to four new retail dining options. Qdoba and Panera Bread will be available in Meredith Residence Hall South, while Chick-fil-A and Jersey Mike’s will be available in Griffin Residence Hall North. York Street Market will temporarily open in Griffin Residence Hall North, and Jersey Mike’s will replace that location later this fall.

For more on campus de-densification efforts and other information related to COVID-19, visit the Protect Purdue website.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Media contact: jsbush@purdue.edu, 765-336-1909

Sources:

Jay Wasson, associate vice president, Physical Facilities, Purdue University, jwasson@purdue.edu

Barb Frazee, assistant vice provost for Student Life for University Residences and Purdue Dining & Culinary, Purdue University, bjfrazee@purdue.edu

Brian Budden, president and CEO, Plenary, 604-638-5260

John Picerne, founder, Corvias, 571-309-5943

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