University Begins Construction of New Student Housing

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To meet student demand for campus housing and accommodate projected growth in student enrollment, the University at Albany has begun construction of new student housing that will provide on-campus accommodations for an additional 1,200 students.

The new housing, which is being constructed in phases, will be ready for occupancy by 800 students at the beginning of the fall semester in 2002. The accommodations for an additional 400 students are slated for completion in January 2003.

"Attractive quality student housing is an important element in the University at Albany's efforts to recruit and retain high-performing undergraduate and graduate students. We are confident this new housing will strengthen the quality of life for our students," said Vice President for Student Affairs James P. Doellefeld. "These new student residences are one factor in the equation to advance UAlbany into the very top ranks of public universities in America."

Featuring apartment-style living accommodations, the new housing complex will consist of 25 buildings located on 25 acres at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Fuller Road.

Most of the buildings will be designed with 12 four-bedroom, two-bath apartments for use by undergraduates - 48 occupants to a building. Six of the buildings will be constructed in two clusters forming a "graduate community" for graduate students and these apartments will have four bedrooms and four baths. Each apartment will feature a kitchen and living room and include a washer and dryer. On the site will be one building that will serve as a commons/"welcoming" building, complete with exercise and mail facilities, staff offices, and a meeting area.

The University is taking every possible step to preserve the natural beauty of the site. A buffer zone of trees will remain around the site and fingers of vegetation will exist among the individual buildings. To the extent possible, the University will transplant vegetation and landscape with native plantings.

The State University of New York entered into a ground lease agreement with the University at Albany Alumni Association to develop the student housing. The alumni association is subleasing the site to the University at Albany Foundation Student Housing Corporation, which is overseeing the development of the project. The housing will be managed by the University under contract with the Student Housing Corporation. The estimated $59 million in project costs will be funded through municipal tax-exempt bonds, and the Student Housing Corporation is seeking financing through City of Albany's Industrial Development Agency.

United Development Corp. of Albany is the project developer. Architects are DiMella Shaffer Associates of Boston. The site engineer is Saratoga Associates; the general contractor is BBL Construction Services. First Albany Corporation will serve as bond underwriter.

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July 26, 2001

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