McPherson College Announces New Apartment-Style Student Housing
The 90,000-square-foot complex is part of a $50 million, donor-funded round of campus construction
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Become a subscriberMCPHERSON, Kan. — McPherson College announced Aug. 12 it will build a new apartment-style residential complex, the latest project in what the college calls an unprecedented period of campus construction. Dondlinger Construction of Wichita, which built the college's Campus Commons, has been selected as general contractor, with construction set to begin this fall.
The 90,000-square-foot building will offer fully furnished two- and four-bedroom units, each with private bedrooms, a living room, a small kitchen and a full bathroom. "This investment in our residential program enables us to deliver quality living environments," President Michael Schneider said in a news release. McPherson Mayor Jim Loving said the housing project also "returns beds to the local rental market."
Dondlinger will also serve as general contractor on two other campus projects: the renovation and expansion of Templeton Hall, home of the college's Automotive Restoration program, and the renovation of the former Hoffman Student Union for a new mechanical engineering program that begins classes this fall. Together, the three donor-funded projects represent a $50 million investment in the campus.
The building boom is funded by the college's record-setting fundraising run. In November 2022, an anonymous donor pledged to match $2 for every $1 the college raised, up to $500 million.
The college met the challenge by the June 30, 2023, deadline, and the donor committed an additional $500 million estate gift, bringing the total commitment to $1 billion. The combined funding of roughly $1.59 billion is expected to create the largest endowment of any small liberal arts college in the United States.
The college has directed the funds toward its "Community by Design" strategic plan, which included construction of the Campus Commons, an athletics center and continued support of its Student Debt Project. The college posts project updates on its news page at mcpherson.edu.
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