BANGOR, Maine — Andrew Farnsworth loved the idea of living in one of Husson University’s newest residence halls — until he heard when they would be finished.
The university announced on Friday that it would build six two-story apartments that each will feature a complete kitchen, living room, two bathrooms and four single bedrooms, a big upgrade from Farnsworth’s narrow L-shaped single room and its bunk bed at Carlisle Hall, he said. But his face fell a little bit and his smile grew rueful when he heard that the new buildings will be finished by September 2017.
“That’s just after I’m out,” said the 21-year-old East Machias native, who plans to graduate next spring with a master’s degree in business administration and a four-year bachelor’s degree in sports management.
Husson is due to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday morning to honor the university’s first new housing construction since the completion of its $11.5 million Living and Learning Center in September 2012. The ceremony is part of Homecoming Weekend celebrations, officials said.
Construction of the three townhouse-style buildings will begin within six weeks. The buildings will house 72 beds for juniors, seniors and graduate students. They will be located on a grassy knoll opposite the Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business.
University President Robert A. Clark welcomed the $5 million addition to the campus.
“This project is in response to demands from students for apartment-style housing that would be amenable to student residents on our campus,” Clark said. “This is a step toward addressing additional space issues on campus in an academic and a residential model.”
“As we seek the campus of the future, we are anticipating creating new academic learning space to accompany the new living space,” Clark said.
The new townhouses follow nearly $6 million in campus enhancements that included an upgrade to Winkin Field’s 147,000-square-foot turf surface, renovations to Carlisle Hall, a new weight room in the Newman Gymnasium and a temporary student wellness center.
Freshman Zachary Lizotte said he might consider moving into the new space next year. A Fairfield native, Lizotte said he is living with an aunt to save money. He said he couldn’t get enough hours working at his part-time job as a cook at Governor’s Restaurant in Old Town to afford to live by himself.
“It seems like a pretty good idea,” Lizotte said. “It allows people to come from out-of-state. I live 60 miles away, so it’s easier to live up here than to make the commute every day.”
Of the 3,500 undergraduate and graduate students at the Bangor campus, about 1,100 live in on-campus housing such as the Bell, Carlisle and Hart residence halls and the living and learning center, said Eric B. Gordon, Husson’s executive director of marketing and communications.
The majority of the on-campus housing was built when the campus opened in 1968, said Carl G. Stiles, dean of student life.
Husson officials plan to continue to renovate that older housing, Stiles said.
Husson also has satellite campuses in Presque Isle, South Portland and Wells.