Construction begins on new residence hall

PURDUE UNIVERSITY NORTHWEST

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Purdue University Northwest and city of Hammond leaders ceremonially break ground on Calumet Hall, the university’s new residence hall. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott said the facility will continue to benefit the city and university. Maya Wilkins/Post-Tribune

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A rendering shows what Calumet Hall at Purdue University Northwest will look like. The residence hall is more than $20 million and self-financed by the university. Purdue University Northwest

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By Maya Wilkins Post-Tribune

For Purdue University Northwest, the construction of a new residence hall ensures the school keeps students at the forefront.

“We don’t get to do this very often, so there’s genuine excitement,” said PNW Chancellor Chris Holford. “The faculty at this university are performing at an all-time high, and it’s because of the students at this institution that we’re doing all of this. We really are interested in them having a wonderful experience when they’re here on campus.”

PNW staff and Hammond leaders on Thursday broke ground on Calumet Hall, a $29 million, self-financed residence hall at the university. According to PNW numbers, more than 800 students live in the university’s two existing residence halls.

Holford said Thursday that the university expects Calumet Hall to be completed by fall 2026.

Calumet Hall is a 42,000-square-foot building that will be located at the northeast corner of 173rd Street and Woodmar Avenue, closer to the “heart of campus,” Holford said.

The residence hall will be three stories with 150 beds in a combination of single- and double-occupancy rooms, according to a PNW announcement. The building will also feature a common kitchen, laundry facilities, student study areas, and a student lounge.

The residence hall is named for the Calumet region’s geographical and cultural heritage, Holford said, adding that the region is one of the “most biodiverse areas” in the nation.

“The nearby dunes, along with the southern shores of Lake Michigan, proximity to Chicago and the area’s early economic growth as a hub of industrial production are among the many distinct aspects of the Calumet region,” he said. “This also led to the establishment and growth of the Purdue Northwest campuses.”PNW was formed in 2016 from the merger of the two former campuses of Purdue Calumet in Hammond and Purdue North Central in Westville. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott is an alumnus of Purdue Calumet, he said Thursday.

“This place is special to me,” McDermott said. “And it’s great as mayor to see a college grow up before your very eyes.”

When he attended Purdue Calumet, McDermott said it was a commuter campus and didn’t have athletics. He said it’s “been awesome” to see the school grow and watch the third residence hall break ground.

PNW economically, culturally and intellectually benefits the city of Hammond, McDermott said, and a third residence hall brings the opportunity for a better partnership between the university and city.

Another residence hall is a sign of the university’s steady enrollment and a strong future, McDermott said.

“It’s bringing fresh life into a city that needed fresh life,” McDermott said. “This is what (PNW) is doing for us, and we thank you for that.”

mwilkins@chicagotribune.com