Plans for a new residence hall south of Hillenbrand Hall are taking shape, with the new facility set to serve as the home of Purdue’s largest learning community.
Work on the new residence hall is scheduled to begin in March 2024 with an opening date of fall 2026. The new hall will be an eight-story, 252,000-plus square-foot facility that will include 896 beds. During construction, Hillenbrand Dining Court will be renovated and expanded from 500 to 800 seats to accommodate the additional residents. The hall will be constructed to the south of Hillenbrand Hall in the corridor currently existing between Hillenbrand and Harrison halls, with an angled entrance that will face MacArthur Drive.
Hillenbrand South will house The Data Mine Learning Community, a large-scale learning community for undergraduate and graduate students from all majors focusing on data science. The Data Mine introduces students to data science concepts and equips them to create solutions to real-world problems. The Data Mine is part of Purdue University’s Integrated Data Science Initiative, which is designed to train students across all majors with the data literacy needed to succeed in a data-driven world. The Data Mine includes more than 1,700 students in 20 learning communities.
University Residences, Dining & Culinary, Physical Facilities and The Data Mine are working closely with contractors to create a facility that best serves the needs of the learning community. The residence hall will include Data Mine labs, offices, lounges, study spaces and multi-purpose rooms for students to collaborate and learn. A visiting faculty apartment will allow the learning community to host guests for multiple days, creating dynamic learning opportunities for residents.
The floor layout of the new residence hall will feature pod-style housing containing a mix of single, double, triple and quad-occupancy student rooms arranged around centralized bathrooms, study areas, music rooms and a lounge. In addition to encouraging student interaction, pod-style housing provides a variety of room-type options for students on every floor. Housing for Residential Life staff, such as residence education coordinators (RECs) and residence education assistants (REAs) is also included. Other amenities include a large multi-purpose room, game room and lounges on the ground floor. A partial basement will contain the necessary mechanical and electrical equipment to support the facility.
In addition to expanded seating, an allergen-free food station will be added to Hillenbrand Dining Court as part of the renovation. Sushi Boss, a popular sushi option for students, will also have a presence in Hillenbrand South as a grab-and-go dining option with seating nearby. The dining court will close from March – July 2024 for initial renovation work but will otherwise remain open during the construction of the new residence hall.
Hillenbrand South is the second student housing project approved in 2023 to fulfill a primary objective of the Action Council on Student Housing and Wellbeing, a key initiative of Purdue President Mung Chiang under the leadership of Provost Patrick Wolfe and Chief Financial Officer Chris Ruhle. Since 2013, Purdue enrollment has increased 31 percent. The completion of Hillenbrand South and a student housing project at Third Street and McCormick Road, projected for completion in fall 2025, will contribute to a 35 percent increase in on-campus beds. The scope and location of the project are aligned with the Giant Leaps Housing and Dining Master Plan.
Written by: Matthew Vader, writer, Student Life Marketing