Add as a preferred source on Google

California Northstate Receives Approval on New Modular Residence Hall

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 09/29/20

A private for-profit university in northern California has received city approval to build a new on-campus dormitory for its medical students. California Northstate University, located near Sacramento, will be constructing a five-story, 104,500 square-foot student dormitory on its Rancho Cordova campus, with 400 rooms in two separate buildings. Construction plans also include a separate free-standing, 9,237-square-foot cafeteria building with another 16 rooms.

Architectural rendering of approved residence halls.

CNSU has colleges of pharmacy, medicine, psychology and health sciences at two campuses. The university wants to expand enrollment to include international students. "In order to do so, they need to provide housing options," according to public documents.

The building will be located on the site of an "underused" parking lot next to the existing Health Science College campus, which typically enrolls around 300 students. Amenities will include laundry facilities, a lounge and a recreation room. On-site vehicle, electric charge stations and bicycle parking are also part of the plans.

According to campus leadership, architecture of the dormitory will include both modern and traditional design elements, with "hipped roofs," canopies and horizontal lines with cream to light brown alternating colors. The building will use modular construction, being manufactured off-site and assembled on campus. The exterior of the building will then be constructed on the outside of the modular units once they're assembled. Design was done by Edmond Jacobs, an architect in Modesto, CA.

The university said it was investing $30 million in the project.

The campus also announced plans to build a medical center in Elk Grove, which was expected to be completed in 2022.

University President and CEO, Alvin Cheung, said in a statement that the Rancho Cordova City Council and its staff "worked diligently" to keep the dorm project compatible with the surrounding business park. "The city was great to work with and we look forward to bringing more educational facilities to Rancho Cordova," he noted.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

  • LSU Breaks Ground on $200M Residential Project

    Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., recently broke ground on a new residential complex, according to university news. The South Quad residential project will consist of two buildings and add a total of 1,266 beds for freshmen students. The development comes with a price tag of $200 million, and it’s scheduled to open to students in fall 2027.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

  • UCNJ Launches $30M Modernization of Physical Education Center

    The Union College of Union County (UCNJ) in Cranford, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $30-million modernization project for its Physical Education Center (PECK), according to a news release. The college partnered with DIGroup Architecture for the project’s design, transitioning the existing 42,000-square-foot structure into a campus hub for student athletics and campus life.

Digital Edition