For Immediate Release March 23, 2005

For More Information Contact: Diane Brown, 317-274-7711 habrown@iupui.edu

Student Housing Earns Third Construction/Design Award

INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI's new student housing has earned a third award of excellence from the construction industry.

Midwest Construction magazine recently named the Campus Apartments on the River Walk complex as the recipient of an Award of Merit in the residential category of its Best of 2004 Awards.

According to comments on the Midwest Construction Web site, Apartments on the River Walk "is so much better than what you see for student housing. The facility is human scaled," said the award jury composed of 10 industry leaders in real estate, design and construction.

The complex of one-, two- and four-bedroom fully furnished apartments was one of 45 projects in Indiana , Illinois and Wisconsin honored for excellence in construction and design at the Midwest Construction awards ceremony in January.

"The recognition received has acknowledged the effort put forth by the University and design team to develop a large residential complex that conveys 'neighborhood and community'," said Hayward Guenard, director of Housing and Residence Life at IUPUI.

Specifically, construction of the apartment complex with 700 new bed spaces has allowed the university to develop new residential-based learning communities including Women in Sciences, Purdue House, Honors House and I-House (International House), Guenard said.

These four learning communities allow for academic units to expand learning "out of the classroom," and allow for more competitive recruitment of "better prepared and a more diverse student population," the director said.

Research strongly shows that a strong student community increases student learning and engagement, which in turn increases student retention and graduation rates, according to Karen Whitney, IUPUI vice chancellor of Student Life and Diversity.

"This award provides evidence that we have constructed a quality environment which will enhance a quality residence life program, thereby advancing our goal of increased graduation rates," Whitney said. "IUPUI is serious about providing an outstanding residential experience for our students and it was a compliment to receive such a prestigious award."

The housing complex, completed last year, opened to residents in August 2003.

Campus Apartments on the River Walk received two honors last year in the 27th annual Awards for Excellence in Design, Development, Construction, Engineering, and Beautification of Indianapolis, a prestigious Marion County competition. The complex won an honor award (first place) in the Downtown Development category, and a merit award (second place) in the Construction category.

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