Add as a preferred source on Google

Northwestern College Breaks Ground on New Residence Hall

  • By Matt Jones
  • 05/10/23

Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, recently broke ground on a new, all-women’s residence hall, according to local news. The three-story facility will measure in at 45,000 square feet and cost an estimated $14 million. It will have the capacity for 157 beds and consist of two wings with two dorms on each side, as well as a large central gathering area and other common spaces on each floor. Construction is scheduled to begin in the first week of May and be complete by July 2024, local news reports.

“We can’t do without the facility that we have now, so this building will be constructed now and be ready by the summer of 2024,” said Northwestern College President Greg Christy. “So we’ll keep Colter Brenner Hall online until then, and then when we move into this new facility, we’ll take [it] down after we’ve moved into this new residence hall.” Christy cited increasing recruitment numbers as the cause for both building the new residence hall and keeping the old one active as long as possible.

The college also announced that the new residence hall will be named Christy Suites in honor of its president and his wife, Michelle. According to a college news release, the decision was made in response to a request from the project’s lead donors. Christy has served as president of Northwestern for fifteen years and has led efforts to construct or renovate ten new buildings and increase enrollment to a record 1,712 students, the release reports.

“I was speechless,” said Greg Christy. “I am deeply humbled and honored that they would think of doing something in honor of Michelle and me. It’s been a real honor to serve an institution that holds Christ-centered ideals. We have a very supportive board of trustees and dedicated and talented faculty and staff. Michelle and I believe deeply in the mission of Northwestern, and we believe deeply in our faculty and staff. It’s just a privilege to serve alongside them.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Texas K–12 District to Build New Elementary, High Schools

    The High Island Independent School District on the Bolivar Peninsula in Southeast Texas recently announced that construction on a new elementary school and a new high school will begin in January 2026, according to local news. Funding will come from a $27.9-million bond passed in May 2025.

  • Tennessee State University Gains Approval for New Engineering Facility

    Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., recently announced that it has received approval from the Tennessee State Building Commission to build a new engineering building on campus, according to a university news release. The 70,000-square-foot, $50-million facility will play home to the university’s engineering programs and the Applied & Industrial Technology program.

  • FAU Starts Construction on Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building

    Florida Atlantic University recently began construction on a new academic building for its campus in Boca Raton, Fla., according to university news. The Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building will stand two stories, measure in at 22,000 square feet, and play home to the university’s Holocaust education and Jewish studies programs.

  • 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