By: Natalie Kostelni
Campus Apartments is developing a $50 million residential project for the University of the Sciences.
The project at 46th Street and Woodland Avenue is significant since it will begin a multi-phase effort to replace the school’s existing housing stock over the next several years as well as attempt to activate the Woodland Avenue corridor in West Philadelphia.
The new 6-story, 128,000-square-foot building has been designed to be more than just a dorm. It aims to be a place for students to socialize, study, and attend classes and other programs. It will also have ground-floor retail space. In all, the structure will house 400 students. Design Collective is the architect.
The concept of having a multi-purpose residential building for students is also being pursued by other universities. For example, the University of Pennsylvania last month completed the construction of New College House, a building that houses students but also gives them a place to eat, study and socialize and create what is essentially a community.
The University of the Sciences paid roughly $2 million in 2014 to buy the former Alexander Wilson School from the School District of Philadelphia and will build the project on the site. Construction of the new building is expected to begin in January and be completed by August 2018.
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2016/09/20/campus-apartments-university-of-the-sciences.html?ana=twt
