From hotel to student housing in 46 days
Towson University has new housing for students transferring to campus after renovating the former Marriott and opening The Residences at 10 West
By Sean Welsh on August 21, 2018
Students transferring to Towson University this semester have a unique opportunity to call a former hotel their home.
On Tuesday, TU officially opened The Residences at 10 West Burke Avenue, which will provide unique housing specifically for students transferring in for the first time.
TU's newest student housing facility was most recently the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center at Towson University — as recently as 46 days ago, in fact.
TU closed the Marriott on July 1 to prepare the building for conversion to student housing. In the weeks since, nearly $2M in renovations took place, providing students the adequate utilities and necessities for the exclusive experience of living at the first student housing north of Burke Avenue.
“Today, for the first time, transfer students at Towson University have a dedicated residence hall where they can live, learn, and develop a strong sense of community,” Towson University President Dr. Kim Schatzel said to more than 200 people assembled in the lobby at the new residence hall.
The grand opening afforded guests tours of the new residence hall rooms — that are furnished and feature unique layouts, some with full kitchens.
It was a project for which the planning began more than a year ago.
“Over a period of seven years, Towson University is investing almost $700M into our buildings and campus infrastructure — more than has been invested during the previous 20 years,” President Schatzel said.
The project provides another layer to President Schatzel's TIGER Way priority — in dedicated housing for students transferring to the university.
“We saw an opportunity to add much-needed housing for students transferring into TU, bringing the supply a little bit closer to the incredible demand for living on campus,” President Schatzel said. “We saw a way to do a better job of serving and supporting our non-traditional student.”
It also coincides with President Schatzel's Together Towson initiative — in providing students a step closer to the downtown Towson business and community district.
“Within the next several years we will see new building projects completed next door at 101 York Road and just north of that at Towson Row. Having a dedicated residence hall north of Burke Avenue for the very first time strengthens our students’ connections to the restaurants, retail, and recreation throughout uptown Towson — helping to make this town vibrant and successful for us all,” President Schatzel said.
Towson University is welcoming the largest freshman class in the university's history this semester. But the demand for housing for students transferring to TU is also high.
In fact, even with the new Residences at 10 West, coupled with the opening of the newly renovated Residence Tower, Towson University is still working to keep up with demand from students seeking on campus housing.
Approximately 5,600 students will live on campus in 2018-2019.
Thanks to the efforts of Towson University staff, the newest residence facility was brought online in a matter of weeks.
“None of this would’ve been possible without the tireless work of the full-time staff, student employees and contractors in Facilities Management, the Office of Technology Services, the Office of Public Safety, Auxiliary Services and Housing and Residence Life,” President Schatzel said Tuesday.
Students will begin moving in at The Residences at 10 West Burke Avenue Wednesday.
This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel's priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland and TIGER Way.