SHIPPENSBURG, PA - Shippensburg University Student Services, Inc. (SUSSI) and Campus Apartments announce a multi-phased development project to upgrade a majority of the University's on-campus residences. The first phase, a $63 million project that will deliver modern housing facilities to accommodate more than 900 students, a new wellness center and Honors College facilities by the Fall 2012 semester, is a significant step in the University's plan to improve the quality of its housing inventory.
Projected to break ground in 2011, the first phase will include two residential facilities on the North Campus and one on the South Campus, with multipurpose programming areas and generous study and social lounges. One of the North Campus buildings will also include a new state-of-the-art 13,000 square foot wellness center, and the South Campus building will include a new home for the University's Honors College. "This is a landmark project that will deliver far more than just new housing, it will re-shape the campus environment," said University President Bill Ruud. "Incorporating a 'living-learning' concept into the new buildings will foster interaction among students and faculty beyond the classroom and further enhance the overall experience for students."
In order to design, develop and finance the housing project, SUSSI, an independent non-profit organization that serves as the voice for the student community regarding policies that govern the general welfare of students, entered into a partnership with Campus Apartments. "Modernizing our student residences is a priority for us, but it must be done without compromising in other areas," said Darrell L. Miller, President of SUSSI. "Partnering with Campus Apartments, which is committed to providing innovative solutions to these challenges, allows the University to improve the quality of on-campus housing while still preserving capital for essential academic initiatives."
According to Daniel Bernstein, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer at Campus Apartments, this dynamic project is designed to have a long-term positive impact on the entire Shippensburg campus. "This project demonstrates Shippensburg's strong commitment to providing top quality housing to its students," Bernstein said. "Ultimately, it will aid the University in delivering a superior collegiate experience for decades to come – and we are very proud of that."
To complete the first phase, Campus Apartments will collaborate with a trusted and experienced development team, including CUBE 3 Studio, Harkins Development Corporation, Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., and RBC Capital.
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, with more than 8,500 undergraduate and graduate students, is a regional state-supported institution, a proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1871, Shippensburg University serves the educational, social, and cultural needs of students primarily from Southcentral Pennsylvania, though it enrolls students from throughout Pennsylvania, the Mid-Atlantic region, the United States, and various international countries. The university has 75 undergraduate programs and 17 graduate programs in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Education and Human Services and Graduate School. Shippensburg is accredited by a number of national organizations including the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, AACSB, International Association for Management Education, The American Chemical Society, the Council on Social Work Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, the International Association of Counseling Services, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education and the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET).
Campus Apartments, LLC, the oldest and one of the largest privately held student housing companies in the nation, is a leader in the development and management of university affiliated housing. The company has more than $1 billion worth of assets under management with more than 27,000 beds in 25 states. For nearly 50 years, Campus Apartments has been a pioneer in developing communities and providing turnkey solutions for colleges, universities and institutions.
Source: Campus Apartments