UNITY, Maine — Citing record enrollment and a need for more space, Unity College officials are gearing up to launch a $6 million expansion that includes building a new academic building and a 74-bed energy efficient residence hall.
The residence hall, the third to be constructed on campus in three years, will house incoming freshmen. Both new structures should be completed by the 2016-17 school year, according to a news release from the small college with an environmental focus. This year, there are 658 full-time students, and the 248-person freshman class is the largest in Unity College’s history.
Unity College President-elect Melik Khoury said the college wanted to make a “strong commitment” to support the students who choose to enroll there.
“That means supplying state-of-the-industry housing and academic spaces that support learning, community and sustainability,” Khoury said.
The residence hall will be heated and cooled by air-source heat pumps and will feature common spaces and an apartment for a resident director. The new academic building will bolster the school’s academic support services, the president said. The new structures are part of a building spree at Unity College that represents $14.4 million in investment and will have created more than 60,000 square feet of new academic and residence space in just three years.
In the same timeframe, Unity College has added about 25 new, full-time positions and created the McKay Farm and Research Station, a multi-faceted greenhouse operation that provides students with unique opportunities in sustainable agriculture. According to the Maine Department of Labor, Unity College is among the largest employers in Waldo County.
Bruce Nickerson, president of the Unity College board of trustees, said the new projects show the strong strategic vision for the school and its commitment to its students.
“Providing a comfortable and productive environment in which our students can live and learn will always be on top of our priority list,” he said. “We want to make sure we provide 24-7 support and assistance for all our students who enjoy a very special Unity College experience.”