UNI Announces Major Campus Revamp with Housing Overhaul

The University of Northern Iowa is set to move forward with two massive on campus projects.

This news came out after university officials went before the Iowa Board of Regents during a meeting on January 15th, according to a press release from UNI.

Now that the proposal has been approved, the makeup of UNI student housing will change up a bit.

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Goodbye Campbell Hall

One part of the plan involves a decades old, abandoned dormitory called Campbell Hall.

Located at 1301 W 23rd Street in Cedar Falls, this former dormitory was initially built in the 1950s. Campbell Hall has been unoccupied for the past three years and also does not have a fire sprinkler system, passenger elevator, and no ADA accessible bathrooms, according to officials.

Approximately 583 students could be housed in this building. However, officials report that millions of dollars have been wasted in "deferred maintenance" for Campbell.

After receiving the approval from the Iowa Board of Regents earlier this week, the building is anticipated to become a grassy area or park-like environment.

There is no word on the exact timeline of this project. However, we will keep you updated as more details are released to the public.

Campbell Hall Is Being Demolished and UNI Is Buying The Quarters

Another part of this plan that received the go-ahead from the Board of Regents involved the university buying a neighboring apartment complex called the Quarters that will be transformed into residential spaces for students.

The Quarters is located at 2124 W 27th Street in Cedar Falls, which is adjacent to campus.

The Quarters has eleven buildings on a ten-acre property which could house approximately 480 residents. Also, there is on-site parking, basketball court, sand volleyball area, as well as a pool and clubhouse.

"This proposed purchase would provide even more of our students with the type of housing experience they are seeking, while allowing them to live in close proximity to the rest of our UNI campus community and the services they access daily," said UNI President Mark Nook.

Let's Talk $$$

Purchasing the property will cost approximately $21.2 million. These funds would be coming out of the Dormitory Revenue Bonds, and no general education fund dollars will be spent in this acquisition, according to UNI officials.

This is due to UNI Housing & Dining being a "self-supporting auxiliary unit."

“UNI students continue to express their desire for additional on-campus housing options, and apartment-style living is popular among upper-level students,” said Nick Rafanello, assistant vice president & executive director of UNI Housing & Dining.

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