Marian to Begin Work on Graduate Housing

Marian University plans to break ground on a graduate housing project next month. The $10 million complex will have 88 units and is scheduled to be complete in time for the 2015 fall semester. Marian University will break ground on graduate housing in August, an exciting milestone in a new wave of growth for the campus.

The plans call for a 90,000 square foot, four-story, state-of-the-art graduate apartment building with 136 beds to be constructed on the northwest corner of campus, overlooking the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab.

The new apartment building is scheduled to open in time for the Fall 2015 semester when Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine will be in its third year with an estimated 486 medical students.

“We’ve conducted surveys of our current students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and many have indicated a desire to live on campus,” Daniel J. Elsener, president, said. “Having housing that is designed for graduate-level students is essential to our growth plans.”

In order to make room for the new residence halls and associated parking spaces, the university will raze Alverna House (a faith centered living and learning community for undergraduate students) and the East Convent in July. The three Sisters who lived in the East Convent moved to a university-owned house adjacent to campus. Three other Sisters are already living in a university-owned house in the same neighborhood.

“With only three Sisters living in the 16-bedroom house, it made perfect sense to sell the Sisters’ Residence to the university,” Sr. Maureen Irvin said. “The Sisters are so proud of Marian University’s growth, and the role they’ve all played in it. Everyone realizes that the construction of graduate student housing is the next step in our growth process.”

Source: Marian University