Davenport University has announced plans of investing around $6 million in two additional apartment-style residential buildings at their Panther Ridge complex. The project for expansion aims to accommodate growth of the number of student enrollees and increasing demand for on-campus housing.
The project complex is located at the corner of 5465 60th St. SE and Kraft Avenue and aims to house 194 students. The project broke ground in February and started construction last week, it is expected to be completed by fall of 2017. The two three-story buildings comprise 23,000 square feet and each building will contain 18 suites.
Davenport University President Richard Pappas said they aim to attract new and traditional students who want the full residential campus life experience. They have nearly doubled their capacity for the past four years by adding Panther Woods and Panther Ridge to the housing inventory. This provides the students with an option to double up in residence hall rooms and reduce costs.
The campus is currently in capacity, it has 3,100 students enrolled in classes and there are 802 beds available. The two Panther Ridge buildings will help increase the capacity by 130 to 932 beds. The university will also launch a new program offering students housing over the summer months.
There are four housing locations for the W.A. Lettinga Campus, such as South Hall, Cook Hall/Meijer Hall, Panther Ridge and Panther Woods. Panther Woods is located on 68th Street SE just next to the university's Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex. It accommodates 178 students.
According to GRBJ, The Panther Ridge apartments are suite style, will include four bedrooms, two bathrooms per suite, a shared living room, kitchen and washer and dryer. Panther Ridge is the second apartment-style complex and will be connected to the campus via a paved walkway along Kraft Avenue. One of the two new buildings will include a community room that will be available for us for all Panther Ridge residents.
Panther Ridge is reserved for upperclassmen. All incoming freshmen are placed in Davenport University's largest residence building, South Hall according to The Michigan Live.
