YPSILANTI, MI – Eastern Michigan University is adding 700 new student apartment-style housing units as students return this August.
The Lakeview and Westview residence halls have one-, two- and four-bedroom units that each feature luxuries like full kitchens, individual heating and cooling and extra-large windows with views over the campus’ central pond and the school’s football stadium, respectively.
Both buildings were constructed as part of a $200-million initiative called Welcome Home 2025. Nearly 3,000 beds will be renovated or added and older, out-of-use halls including neighboring Hoyt and Pittman halls are to be demolished.
The university is also renovating its main Halle Library, adding onto its Westgate Arts Complex, and it has completed a renovation of Rynearson Stadium’s turf and the neighboring indoor practice facility’s inflatable dome.
READ MORE: Dozen-plus projects nearing completion in Eastern Michigan campus transformation
Lakeview and Westview, designed to attract upperclassmen and graduate students, were laid out based on student feedback from an intensive survey, according to Anthony Sikora of Rieth Jones Advisors, serving as EMU project advisors. Students named priorities such as strong Wi-Fi, individually keyed bedrooms and separate sinks outside each bathroom in multi-bed units.
“One of the things that we tried to do here was really create inviting spaces that students can live and learn in,” Sikora said.
The newly-constructed residence halls also feature glass-walled common areas including a fourth-floor atrium with panoramic views that can be illuminated in a multitude of colors. Each room comes fully furnished and the buildings have in-hall laundry.
Lakeview, the larger of the two developments, broke ground in early 2023 and will begin housing students as early as Aug. 12. Westview, located between the George Gervin GameAbove Center and Intramural Fields, is also ready for occupancy.
About 85% of units in both buildings will be occupied for fall 2024, according to EMU Director of Housing and Residence Life Jeanette Zalba.
“We want students to stay with us and we want students to experience and be able to live on campus for four years if that’s what they want.” Zalba said. “We only have a one-year requirement [for undergraduates] so we’re really hoping students say, ‘You know what, I love living here.’”
Upperclassmen aged 20 and above who have completed at least 55 credit hours of coursework are eligible to rent the apartment-style units.
Studio units rent for $9,256 per academic year, one-bedrooms cost $9,296, two-bedroom units are $8,950 per student and four-bedrooms cost $8,846 per student. Utilities and Wi-Fi are included in those rates.
“We’ve tried to stay marketable with all the services that you would get off-campus. You get furniture, you get Wi-Fi, you get all utilities included,” Zalba said.
Applications for both buildings as well as other apartment-style and traditional units are open on the university’s website.
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