SOUTH KINGSTOWN – A $94 million, 500-bed residence hall – complete with cafe and outdoor seating area – is under construction on the University of Rhode Island’s South Kingstown campus, the school announced Tuesday.
Known as Brookside Apartments, the 203,000 square foot facility will be financed by revenue bonds supported by two sources: URI’s Department of Housing and Residential Life (95 percent) for building and associated amenities and university general revenue (5 percent) for site and infrastructure work.
Sasaki Associates, Inc., of Watertown, Mass. is the architect hired for the project and the general contractor is Bacon Construction Co., of East Providence.
The dorm is expected to open or the fall 2019 semester.
Kathy Collins, URI’s vice president for student affairs, in a statement, said construction of Brookside Apartments is “a huge step for us as we continue to build a vital and dynamic residential community on our Kingston campus.”
Design elements of the residential facility, she added in her remarks, “encourage connection among students, facilitates learning in comfortable, small study areas, helps students learn life skills, like how to plan and prepare meals, and emphasizes the importance of our green spaces and sustainable transportation options.”
Brookside Apartments is located between Wiley and Heathman halls and will house juniors and seniors in six- and four-bedroom furnished suites. Each suite will include a kitchen and two bathrooms.
In addition, residents will have access to a 40-seat cafe, and adjacent outdoor brick patio, where URI dining services food will be available for purchase.
In order to place Brookside Apartments between Wiley and Heathman halls, the Lands and Grounds building – the former sheep barn – was razed and being relocated to West Alumni Ave.
“The razing of what was once the sheep barn to make room for the construction of this outstanding residential facility is another example of the University’s transition from a state agricultural school to a global research institution,” said Jeffrey Plouffe, associate director of residential life. “We know our students are going to love the cafe, the park-like landscape, which will feature river birches, benches and tables, and all of the other amenities of this facility.”
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
