Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Purdue Fort Wayne Opens New Student Housing Complex

  • By Matt Jones
  • 08/20/26

Key Takeaways

  • Purdue University Fort Wayne opened Trace, a new 213,000-square-foot student housing complex with 601 beds, addressing persistent demand after existing campus housing reached capacity for seven consecutive fall semesters.
  • Developed through a public-private partnership, Trace will split its housing roughly evenly between PFW students and students attending other colleges and universities in the Fort Wayne area.
  • The four-story complex offers studio to four-bedroom units along with extensive indoor and outdoor amenities, including study spaces, a fitness center, gaming and lounge areas, sports courts, grilling areas, and fire pits.

 

Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) in Fort Wayne, Ind., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, 600-bed student housing complex on campus, according to a news release. The new facility, Trace, is the result of a public-private partnership; its ultimate purpose is to relieve pressure on existing student housing facilities, which have filled to capacity for the last seven fall semesters.

The 213,000-square-foot complex stands four stories and has the capacity for 601 beds in 176 units, ranging from studio apartments to four-bedroom spaces. About half the space is reserved for PFW students, and the other half for students enrolled at other colleges and universities in the area.

Trace, Purdue University Fort Wayne
Photo credit: Jim Whitecraft, PFW

The university partnered with Gilbane Development as developer and construction manager, AVB as the design-builder, and Progressive AE as project architect. The facility will be operated by Inwood Management and owned by Strategic Facility Partners, the news release reports.

“This ribbon-cutting represents more than just bringing new beds online. It’s a direct response to the evolving needs of the next generation of Mastodons and provides them with a modern space that enhances their campus living experience,” said Geoff Eisenacher, Gilbane Development’s Executive Development Director. “Trace is a testament to what can be achieved when a university and private developer align on a shared goal, and we’re proud to partner with Purdue to effectively and efficiently deliver new residences that further unlock its campus’ potential.”

Amenities include a fitness center, study spaces, convenience store, a gaming room, student lounge areas, and multi-purpose spaces, according to the news release. Outdoor amenities include a sand volleyball court, a basketball court, a hammock farm, grilling areas, and fire pits.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Wenger Names New Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts, Controls

    Wenger Corporation, which provides products and solutions for music and theater education, performing arts and athletic storage, recently announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts and Controls.

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.

  • Wyoming District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Laramie County School District #1 in Cheyenne, Wy., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the upcoming Mountain View Elementary School, according to a news release. The facility has an estimated completion date of summer 2028, and it will have the capacity for 650 students in fifth and sixth grade.