UAlbany Celebrates Opening of Great Dane Apartments, New 225-Bed Residence Hall

Photo by Zach Durocher

ALBANY, N.Y. (Aug. 24, 2026) — The University at Albany held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday, Aug. 24, to celebrate the opening of the Great Dane Apartments, a new University-managed residence hall steps away from Downtown Campus at 930 Madison Ave. in Albany.

The ceremony featured remarks from UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez and Michael Christakis, vice president for student affairs & enrollment. Guests toured the residence hall following the program.

“A residence hall is much more than a place for students to sleep, it is a place where lifelong friendships are forged, where independence grows, and where students begin to build their futures. The University at Albany is thrilled to be opening the new Great Dane Apartments, providing more than 200 students with beautiful apartment-style accommodations while they pursue their degrees. As an economic anchor in the city of Albany, we are also proud to be bringing student life back to the Upper Madison neighborhood,” Rodríguez said.

Great Dane Apartments – located at the former College of Saint Rose's Centennial Hall — expands UAlbany’s housing portfolio with 66 apartment-style units and 225 beds for upperclass and graduate students. The 93,671-square-foot building includes 47 four-bedroom, two-bathroom units; 18 two-bedroom, one-bathroom units; and a one-bedroom manager’s unit.

Shared amenities include recreation and study spaces, laundry facilities, vending areas and surface parking. The building was constructed in 2012 and previously served as a College of Saint Rose residence hall.

The University recently announced the largest incoming class in its history, with over 3,500 first-year and 1,000 transfer students. Great Dane Apartments supports the sustained demand for University housing, particularly apartment-style options. When UAlbany announced plans to acquire the property in November 2025, its housing facilities had operated above capacity for two consecutive years. Empire Commons, one of the University’s most sought-after apartment communities, also consistently operated at full capacity.

Great Dane Apartments will provide students with another University-managed housing option while supporting UAlbany’s enrollment, retention and student experience goals.

“As we begin a new academic year and welcome another historic class of Great Danes to campus, today’s ribbon cutting represents something important. The Great Dane Apartments are an investment in our students and their experience at UAlbany. We want the Great Dane Apartments to become — not simply a place where students live, but a place they call home,” Christakis said.