The River Forest, Ill., Village Board has approved plans for a five-story residence hall at Concordia University Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the university hopes the first phase of the facility will be completed by next summer. The plans call for completing the building shell and finishing only the first and second floors. As the university raises the needed funds, the remaining three floors will be finished. It will be the first new student housing on the River Forest campus since 1969.
When completed, the 48,000-square-foot building will accommodate 147 students. The university says the new housing will have modern amenities and suite-style rooms that will help it compete more effectively with other institutions for students. The building will have digital keyless entry, built-in technology, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and common lounge areas.
University officials cited a need to compete with area colleges as reason for pursuing the new building, which they hope will be completed next summer.
