UConn Stamford’s first residence hall opened this fall. The six-story, 116-unit building at 900 Washington Blvd., just two blocks south of UConn Stamford, will house almost 300 students annually and will operate in the same way as the Storrs residence halls, with resident assistants and study lounges. It is halfway between the main campus and the Stamford Transportation Center.
It is the culmination of several years of work that responds to student demand at that campus, which is UConn’s largest regional location, with 1,700 undergrads and 600 graduate students. Although the campus has been growing, the vast majority of students had to commute from other communities because they could not afford Stamford apartment rents.
President Susan Herbst said at the opening that the housing also will help students have a genuine urban university experience, in which they can take advantage of Stamford’s many offerings while creating community with others who live in the hall.
“With an array of internship opportunities, cultural offerings, prominent employers, and the unique aspects of city life right outside their front door, the students who choose to live here can enjoy a dynamic urban university experience,” says Herbst.
“This experience will pay dividends long into the future for our alumni, the University, and the city,” she added.
Governor Dannel P. Malloy, a former Stamford mayor, has been a strong supporter of UConn’s plans for student housing there.
“With leading programs in digital media and business, a location in a vibrant city, and access to an established transportation hub linking students to the entire eastern seaboard, it is no surprise UConn Stamford is growing and thriving,” said Malloy.
“We are thrilled this new residence hall will connect hundreds of students to their campus, internship opportunities, and cultural experiences right here in downtown Stamford,” he said.
UConn has had a presence in Stamford since 1951, when it began offering extension courses in the former Stamford High School. UConn Stamford moved to its current downtown location in 1998. —stephanie reitz
Leave a Reply