Schools

Oakland University Set to Break Ground on Residence Hall

Groundbreaking for $30 million facility will take place April 16.

Oakland University is set to break ground on a $30 million student residence hall that will accommodate more than 500 students beginning in the fall of 2014, according to school officials.

The school has a groundbreaking event planned at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Citing a steady increase in both enrollment and housing needs, Oakland University says it has seen a 37 percent increase in rental agreements over the past four years.

Amenities at the new housing facility will include access to a small cafe and space for student meetings and studying, according to officials. The building also will become the new home of OU's Honors College, officials indicated.

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The residence hall was approved in December by university officials.

University Housing Director Jim Zentmeyer told the Oakland Post, the campus newspaper, that the housing units will differ from traditional student housing.

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“These (freshman rooms) are really going to be sweet,” Zentmeyer told the Post. “The student enters and they have a bathroom with a toilet, sink (and) shower. They have a kitchen sink, under-the-counter refrigerator/freezer, microwave and HVAC that regulates just this room’s temperature. It’s both air conditioning and heating 365 days a year.”


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