University of Evansville President Christopher Pietruszkiewicz is leading a hard-hat wearing group of important project players in “turning the soil” at the construction site of Lincoln Commons at the corner of Lincoln Street and Weinbach Avenue.
“All right, everyone raise their purple shovel,” he said as they paused for photographs, shovels poised above the dirt brought in for the event.
Technically Lincoln Commons broke ground in March — and crews are working on the foundation and underground utilities.
It cost $20 million, and is funded through a bond issuance.
This will be a four-story, 55-unit apartment building with one and two bedroom units complete with kitchens and in-unit laundry. Overall it will house about 123 students.
Pietruszkiewicz said this follows the new freshman and sophomore housing structure on Walnut Street, which was built in “pods” to encourage community among the new students.
“This one is for junior and senior students, and is build more apartment style so that they start getting used to independent living when they leave us at the University of Evansville.”
As UE has constructed new buildings, they’ve also razed or retired halls Hughes, Morton and Brentano.
Next summer, UE will conduct a lottery to decide who can rent a unit at Lincoln Commons.
UE has the capacity for about 3,000 students. Pietruszkiewicz said they’ve experienced some growth in both the undergraduate, and graduate areas.
“Today is a special day in the life of our university and our city,” he said. “As our university grows as our city grows, and as our city grows, so does our university.”
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