A public/private partnership will fund a four-story, 213,000 sf apartment complex on Purdue University Fort Wayne’s (PFW’s) North Campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The P3 entity was formed exclusively for this property. The student housing complex will offer 600 beds across 176 units, with nearly half reserved for university-contracted students while the rest will be available to other area students for direct leasing.
The project will add badly needed housing to the campus. PFW’s student housing has been at full capacity for six consecutive fall semesters, with nearly 1,600 students housed at the start of the 2023-24 academic year—an increase of nearly 21% from the previous year. Housing options will include studios to four-bedroom units.
“The dynamics of the Purdue Fort Wayne campus have changed dramatically during the past few years,” said Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer. “The university is focused on bringing more people to the area to help fill the employee pipeline. Student housing is an essential component of that strategy. Having sufficient on-campus housing to meet the growing demand is also critical to our ability to create the residential campus environment our students and their families have come to expect.”
The complex, designed to have minimal impact on the surrounding neighborhood, will include a generous public drop-off area for campus shuttles and rideshares, as well as strategic parking placement with over 450 spaces to complement multiple pedestrian connections. Outdoor amenities include a hammock farm, green spaces, sand volleyball and basketball courts, grilling areas, and fire pits. Inside, shared spaces include: a convenience store, fitness center, gaming room, quiet study spaces, lounges, reception area, and leasing office.
The project emphasizes sustainability, incorporating energy-efficient appliances and lighting, water conservation measures, native landscaping, stormwater treatment, and construction waste management strategies. Preliminary work on the $90-$100 million project is slated to begin in October, with completion targeted for the fall 2026 semester.
Owner and/or developer: Gilbane Development Company
Design architect: Progressive AE
Architect of record: Progressive AE
MEP engineer: Progressive AE
Structural engineer: Progressive AE
General contractor: American Village Builders (AVB)
CM Agent: Gilbane Building Company
Related Stories
Student Housing | Dec 7, 2022
9 exemplary student housing projects in 2022
Production continued apace this year and last, as colleges and universities, for-profit developers, and their AEC teams scrambled to get college residences open before the start of classes.
Student Housing | Dec 7, 2022
Cornell University builds massive student housing complex to accommodate planned enrollment growth
In Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University has completed its North Campus Residential Expansion (NCRE) project. Designed by ikon.5 architects, the 776,000-sf project provides 1,200 beds for first-year students and 800 beds for sophomore students. The NCRE project aimed to accommodate the university’s planned growth in student enrollment while meeting its green infrastructure standards. Cornell University plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 22, 2022
10 compelling multifamily developments debut in 2022
A smart home tech-focused apartment complex in North Phoenix, Ariz., and a factory conversion to lofts in St. Louis highlight the notable multifamily developments to debut recently.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 5, 2022
Co-living spaces, wellness-minded designs among innovations in multifamily housing
The booming multifamily sector shows no signs of a significant slowdown heading into 2023. Here is a round up of Giants 400 firms that are driving innovation in this sector.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 14, 2022
27 new kitchen and bath products multifamily developers and AEC teams are using for the first time
Multifamily developers and AEC project teams are adopting new kitchen + bath products and systems for the first time, according to the MULTIFAMILY Design+Construction Kitchen+Bath Survey 2022.
Multifamily Housing | Sep 13, 2022
Take the Multifamily Kitchen + Bath survey – Maybe win one of 10 $50 gift cards
Preliminary results of 2022 Multifamily Design+Construction exclusive Kitchen + Bath survey.
Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022
Top 40 Student Housing Facility Contractors + CM Firms for 2022
J.H. Findorff & Son, PCL Construction Enterprises, Juneau Construction, and Sundt Construction top the ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022
Top 35 Student Housing Facility Engineering + EA Firms for 2022
Kimley-Horn, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers, and Jacobs top the ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Aug 29, 2022
Top 70 Student Housing Facility Architecture + AE Firms for 2022
Niles Bolton Associates, Mithun, Gensler, and Perkins and Will top the ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2022, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
