University of Illinois at Chicago to create $100M complex
CHICAGO (AP) - The University of Illinois at Chicago is planning to build a $100 million residence hall and academic complex.
The Illinois Board of Higher Education approved the university's proposal for the 10-story building Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The project comes after a two-year state budget impasse. Illinois' new 2017-18 budget provides public universities with funding similar to what they received before the impasse.
The end of the budget deadlock also has helped stabilize the state's bond rating, allowing the university to obtain better borrowing terms.
The facility will be the university's first new dorm in more than a decade and comes amid a five-year plan to boost enrollment. The dorm will include 550 beds, a retail space, a fitness center and an academic wing with classroom and study space.
"There will be students who will be able to just get out of bed, go downstairs have a cup of coffee and go straight to class," said J. Rex Tolliver, vice chancellor for student affairs.
Tolliver said the university is aiming to increase and modernize its housing with the facility.
"This will be a truly integrated living and learning community," Tolliver said. "The needs of students today are different than what they were 30, 40 years ago. Their expectations are different. We haven't provided that type of experience at UIC. It's past time for us to be doing it."
Construction is scheduled to begin in December and expected to last until July 2019.
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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com