THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME Expanding on-campus living options M ore UofL students than ever are living in campus-affiliated housing or on campus. This fall, UofL officially opened two new resi-dence halls whose construction has helped transform Belknap Campus. The 450-bed Belknap Village South is a traditional-style hall for primarily first-year students. It is the twin to Belknap Village North, which opened in 2021. Both halls, located across from the Swain Student Activ-ities Center, are part of an $87 million project aimed at providing modern, affordable housing with amenities that contribute to student success. Students who live there are also just steps away from the Interfaith Center, Ekstrom Library, Red Barn, numer-ous classroom buildings and beautiful outdoor spaces. Belknap Village South also houses the new offices of UofL’s Center for Engaged Learning, the hub for students to find hands-on job and research opportunities. “We know students, especially in their first year, thrive when they are immersed in the college experience,” said Lori Stewart Gonzalez, inter-im president. “Our new residence halls have the ame-nities students are looking for in the 21st century and will contribute to their success,” said Tom Hardy, executive director of university housing and the resident experience. Also opened this fall is the 128-bed Denny Crum Residence Hall across South Floyd Street from the Planet Fitness Kueber Center practice facil-ity. A residence for student athletes and non-student athletes, it features apartment-style living and is home to the new living-learning community for sports professions. Named for the Cardinals’ former Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach, the facility houses student-athletes from men’s basketball, women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse, as well as other UofL students. The five-story, 67-unit facility includes 128 beds, of which UofL Athletics will guarantee occupancy for 63 to remain within the NCAA requirement of no more than 50% of the beds being occupied by student-athletes. UofL Athletics will also guarantee an additional 10 beds to be used by team managers and graduate assistants. The living-learning community (LLC) will bolster the sport admin-istration program and others that involve athletic excellence from a business and operations standpoint. With the LLC including many athletes in action, it offers unparal-leled opportunities for athletes and students to work together to innovate in the field of sports. t Students settle in at new Belknap Village South, a residence hall that also houses the Center for Engaged Learning. FALL/WINTER 2022 9
University of Louisville Fall/Winter 2022: Page 11
