For the first time in its history, the University of Massachusetts Boston has opened residence halls for its students.

WBUR-Radio reports that the university's first student housing officially opened today after students were allowed to move in over the weekend.

The $120 million, 260,000-square-foot residence hall will accommodate 1,077 students at UMass Boston, which opened 54 years ago as a commuter campus.

"This is a new UMass Boston," said sophomore Eriq Gassé, a resident assistant. "We are not the same as we were before."

Prices for housing range, depending on the unit, from $8,703 to $12,213 for an academic year. With a mandatory meal-plan, room and board amounts to about $16,000. The bright, modern tower also hosts community kitchens and laundry facilities, as well as a dining common on its first floor.

However, adding a residential hall to a commuter school where affordability is a key factor in attendance has drawn pushback. During the tower's ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, protesters complained that raising fees and cutting costs have made it more difficult for UMass istudents who commute.

MORE: YouTube Video of new student housing.