{"id":86786,"date":"2026-06-10T19:51:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/magazine\/?post_type=stories&p=86786"},"modified":"2026-06-10T19:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T19:51:09","slug":"home-sweet-hall","status":"publish","type":"stories","link":"https:\/\/www.ewu.edu\/magazine\/news\/home-sweet-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Sweet Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"
A new, $50 million residential facility is slated to replace Dryden Hall.<\/h6>\n

Wh<\/span>en it comes<\/span> to university residence halls, the cinder-block doubles and communal bathrooms of old no longer reflect how undergraduates want to live (if they ever did). These days, an affordable mix of privacy, kitchen access, and high-end features typically tops the list of student priorities. Institutions that fail to listen \u2014\u00a0and modernize accordingly \u2014 risk losing students to those that do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eastern is on board. Earlier this spring, planning began for a new residence hall, a $50.2 million project that will replace Dryden, the venerable but now vacant 61-year-old dormitory at the northwest corner of Ninth and Cedar. The yet-to-be-named facility will house 350 to 400 students in configurations that are still to be decided \u2014 though you can be sure comfortable, amenity-rich suites will be on the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe vision is to create modern student housing that supports academic success and community engagement,\u201d says Max Baca, vice president of business and strategy. Design decisions, he adds, will be informed by market research emphasizing the priorities of Eagle students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

NAC Architecture of Spokane will lead the project, extending a relationship that stretches back 45 years and dozens of campus projects. The firm brings considerable experience to the job, with a national portfolio valued at roughly $500 million that includes work for Gonzaga University and the University of Washington.<\/span><\/p>\n

Melanie Potts, EWU\u2019s director of housing and residential life, says the university has sought to be proactive in making the new residences super student friendly. \u201cWe are [engaging] our students and market research to make intentional decisions that will contribute to the success and belonging of EWU students for many years to come,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Design work is expected to begin shortly, with construction targeted for early 2027. Move-in is planned ahead of the 2028-2029 academic year. The new residence hall will join the six residential properties \u2014 four traditional residence halls and two apartment complexes \u2014 that EWU currently operates.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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