Skip to main content
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

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.

  • golden trophies with falling confetti

    Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is happy to announce that we’re now accepting entries for the 2026 New Product Awards! The awards program recognizes the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered particularly noteworthy.

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • New Arizona Fine Arts School Reaches Construction Milestone

    Construction of the new Hilltop School for the Arts and Theater in Litchfield Park, Ariz., recently hit a significant milestone, according to a news release. The Agua Fria High School District held a beam-signing ceremony to celebrate the building’s topping out, or the placement of its last structural beam.