LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — UMass-Lowell is celebrating the opening of its newest dormitory.
A special ceremony is planned for Thursday to mark the opening of University Suites, a multi-purpose building that already houses nearly 500 students and includes a cafe, frozen yogurt shop and a Starbucks.
The $54 million dorm includes 88 four- and six-bed suites that feature living rooms and kitchenettes; eight common lounge areas with full kitchens; and Wi-Fi and other technology throughout the building.
Chancellor Marty Meehan and Richard Freeland, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, are among those scheduled to attend.
The dorm fulfills a critical need for new housing at the university. Enrollment at UMass Lowell has grown 40 percent since 2007 and approximately 4,000 students live in university housing this fall.