Purdue University opened its newest residence hall, 3rd & West, in its Discovery Park District in August. Built with well-being and comfort in mind, the new hall provides resources for students’ health, social, and academic needs inside and out.
Standing five stories tall, 3rd & West offers 984 beds among many different room configurations: one-person studios and apartments, two-person apartments, and four-person apartments. Each apartment has in-unit laundry machines and a kitchen and bathroom. Each residential floor has two study lounges.
On the first floor are two private study rooms, study booths, a study lounge, and several conference rooms ranging in size. Students can also enjoy a kitchen and beverage area, a media lounge, a gaming area, and a 24/7 fitness center with a cardio and weight room and a multipurpose room that can be used for activities such as yoga.
A large plaza at the main entry of 3rd & West allows for big community gatherings. Two adjacent courtyards (one of them is for building residents only) offer space to hang out and socialize or cook in one of the outdoor kitchens. More dining options include the Hillenbrand Dining Court across the street and restaurants in the nearby Discovery Park District. Close to 3rd & West are the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center and Purdue Recreation & Wellness, which offer more activities and programming for students. The building is also on the campus bus line, making it convenient to travel across campus.
The first residents to live here have the opportunity to take part in the hall club and the student community’s first leadership team and can help create events and activities that will become traditions for 3rd & West.
Beth McCuskey, vice provost for student life, shared some of her memories from move-in day. “It was wonderful to see the smiles on students’ and families’ faces as they walked into 3rd & West and took in the many features, including spaces to study, hold meetings, and connect. I especially love the building’s courtyards and garage-style doors that enable groups to easily flow between indoors and out. This is a great space for student events.”
John Eckman, assistant vice provost for student life, agreed and expressed his excitement for the new residence hall. “Our partnership with Purdue Research Foundation and American Campus Communities delivered a modern residence hall with feature-rich apartments designed to support student success for more than 900 residents. From the moment students arrived on move-in day, the response has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting how well the hall meets their expectations for comfort, community, and modern living.” —Camille Perlman
Spotlight is your chance to show off recent construction or renovation projects. Member institutions and architects are encouraged to share details about hall features, related programs, and how they connect to the overall housing mission, as well as photographs of the completed building. Share your success stories.