Camarillo, Calif., August 13, 2003 - Ground was officially broken today for a new student housing complex at California State University Channel Islands. When completed, the $20 million facility will accommodate approximately 350 students. Students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University joined together at the southwest corner of campus for a ceremony to celebrate the historic event.
A picturesque view of the majestic Santa Monica mountains served as a backdrop for campus officials and community leaders who spoke at the event. University President Richard R. Rush, Assemblymember Hannah-Beth Jackson, CSU Board of Trustees Chair Debra S. Farar, CSUCI Vice President for Student Affairs Wm. Gregory Sawyer, and CSUCI Student Government President Rebecca Glazier addressed a sizeable audience that included members of the first freshman class who were on campus attending an orientation.
Rush, Farar, Sawyer, and Glazier were then joined by CSUCI Vice President of Finance and Administration Joanne Coville, President of HMH Construction David Hight, and Project Manager of Ambling West John Morton for the breaking of ground, a first step in a construction process that will take approximately one year to complete.
Funded from the CSU system wide revenue bond program, the student dormitory will be the first on-campus housing alternative for CSUCI students. Three tri-level buildings will house 93 apartments, each with four bedrooms, a kitchenette, and two bathrooms. The complex will also feature a commons area complete with recreation room, pool, and spa. Although the 1,075 square-foot apartments will have all the latest amenities, the complex was designed to blend in with the existing 1930s Spanish revival architecture that characterizes the campus. Included in the design plan are several interior courtyards that will promote community interaction.
“This stunning student housing complex ushers in a new phase of development in our evolution as a campus,” comments University President Richard R. Rush, “a phase that has been much anticipated by our student community. These apartments will greatly enhance campus life and allow us to accommodate students from all regions of the state and even the nation.”
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.