EIU Housing

HISTORY OF UNIVERSITY APARTMENTS

The Married Student Housing Advisory Group recognized the need for housing options for students with families and/or children and collaborated with the school to explore possibilities as the population of married students grew. In 1959, construction began on two one-story buildings that would become the first phase of married student housing offered to students.

The location of the apartments was decided, through student suggestions, to be on an outlying area of campus to best accommodate the needs of families with children. The $500,000 project completed in 1960 considered the desire of tenants to maintain individual identity. The design of landscaping walks, terraces, and play areas allows families to personalize their space while still enjoying the closeness of others.

The success of the first phase of University Apartments quickly led to additional construction. The second phase of the apartment complex began with a contract of $311,247 awarded on October 26, 1964. Phase two was completed in 1965 and brought the total number of apartments for married and family housing to 154 units. The university added another 63 apartments with the completion of phase three in 1968. With apartments ranging in style and set-up, options for students with families grew tremendously during the 1960s.

Today, University Apartments still house families while also providing graduate or other non-traditional students the benefits of living on campus, while not in a traditional residence hall.