Ceremony Celebrates Construction of New Student Housing for CSUSM

Cal State San Marcos celebrated an innovative public-private partnership on Nov. 8 with a special ceremony marking the construction of a 175,000 sq. ft. off-campus student housing complex. Named The Quad, the complex nearly doubles the University’s student housing by adding 597 beds to its existing 614 beds at University Village Apartments.CSUSM President Karen Haynes and City of San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond drove the first nails into structural support beams at the Tuesday ceremony, and were joined by City of San Marcos officials, project developers Urban Villages San Marcos and property managers Education Realty Trust.The $50 million project is made possible by a partnership between Cal State San Marcos and Urban Villages San Marcos that allows the campus to expand its available housing for students without impacting campus debt or financing capacity.“The affiliation partnership is a wonderful example of a public-private partnership that promotes smart development,” said President Haynes. “The Quad provides much needed housing for our growing student population that would otherwise not be provided given the current economic conditions and other infrastructure needs on campus. Adding student housing and mixed use development adjacent to campus gives the University a competitive edge that promotes supportive campus life aimed at student success.”Builders first broke ground on the project, located at 200 East Barharm Drive, in August 2011. Construction is under way to open the first phase of housing by fall 2012 with 288 beds. A second phase, which will add 309 more beds, is slated to open by fall 2013. The complex is designed and being constructed to achieve LEED Silver designation by the U.S. Green Building Council, which recognizes the sustainability, efficiency and innovation of high performance buildings.Once completed The Quad will include 110 apartment units. Each apartment will feature a full kitchen, stainless steel appliances, a lounge space with a flat screen television, a full bathroom for every two beds and high-speed fiber optics connection and WiFi. Common area amenities will include two student lounges, classroom spaces, resort-style pool, barbeque, modern fitness center, game cave, laundry facilities and a catering kitchen. The Quad will also bring local businesses to the complex with 8,000 sq. ft. of retail space on Campus Way.Education Realty Trust (EDR) will professionally lease and manage The Quad. EDR currently manages 57 collegiate housing communities across the United States, including CSUSM’s University Village Apartments.An all-campus celebration and virtual tour is being hosted at University Village Apartments on Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. Get a sneak peek of the new housing by visiting The Quad at CSUSM.