Loyola students are calling the university’s new Uptown Residence Hall everything from “spacious” to “expensive” as they settle into the long-awaited housing development.
This fall, the university welcomed students into its newly constructed Uptown Residence Hall, offering apartment-style living for upperclassmen and graduate students. While many appreciate the modern amenities and design, high costs and lingering concerns about long-term upkeep remain.
Kennedy Mosley, a senior neuroscience major, said the difference between Uptown and older halls is striking.
“I love the new appliances, the new furniture, and the new laundry room,” Mosley said. “Last year I lived in Francis, and it would get really dirty. Hopefully people take care of everything this year because Loyola put a lot of effort into this building.”
Uptown includes seven floors of apartment-style units, ranging from one-bedroom suites to six-bedroom apartments, a setup designed for upperclassmen and graduate students.
For some, the standout feature is space.
Jolie Shepard, a junior mass communications major, said her double feels larger than other campus housing.
“Even the doubles are huge compared to other dorms,” Shepard said. “There’s so much space, and it’s very clean and tidy. The furniture and appliances are really nice, and I really like my roommates.”
Uptown doubles, which cost around $6,100 to $7,000 per semester, come furnished with full kitchens, living areas, and private bathrooms, unlike older halls such as Buddig or Biever.
Harmony Allen, a sophomore psychology major, said Uptown feels more like private living than student housing.
“It feels like an apartment complex, I’m going to be honest,” Allen said. “It’s comfortable and spacious. I love it.”
Loyola designed the hall with features like rooftop solar panels, occupancy-based lighting, and stormwater systems, adding to the sense that it is a step away from traditional dorm life.
Dania Sedegi, a junior marketing major, compared Uptown to her time in Biever Hall.
“The AC’s really nice. There’s no mold, and you can smell the fresh air,” she said. “I really like that, because when I lived in Biever my freshman year, it was so different. This is just clean.”
Each room comes with individually controlled air conditioning, a change from older buildings where temperature control was more limited.
Not all students are convinced Uptown is worth the price.
Alyssa Jones, a junior journalism major, said the building’s cost is a major deterrent.
“Uptown is pretty nice. It’s got some flaws and quirks they need to fix in the building, but the one thing that makes people not want to come is the price,” Jones said.
Single apartments in Uptown can cost up to $7,200 per semester, compared to about $5,935 for a single in Buddig or Biever.
Still, students say the building offers benefits beyond what they’ve experienced in older residence halls.
