EdR Closes Financing and Begins Construction On-campus at West Chester University

by Katie Sloan

West Chester, Pa. — The 653-bed hall is the second third-party development for EdR at WCU and the 19th project for a PASSHE university.

Commonwealth Hall will open in 2014.West Chester, Pa. — EdR has closed financing and has begun construction on a $57.5 million third-party student housing development on the campus of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCU).

This development continues the university’s housing renewal initiative that began in 2001. The new housing — named Commonwealth Hall — will be complete by the summer of 2014. It will provide 653 beds in a variety of floor plans from single-occupancy apartments to shared-living suites for up to six residents. Amenities will include a fitness center, study lounges and a full residence life program. The university’s student health services, counseling center and emergency medical services will be on the lower level of this eight-story building.

“We are proud to have been selected by West Chester University Foundation to partner with them again as they continue to enhance and grow their student housing,” says Randy Churchey, president and chief executive officer of EdR. “This will be our 19th development within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.”

West Chester University of Pennsylvania is the second largest of the 14 public institutions in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the fourth-largest university in the Philadelphia area. Enrollment has grown approximately 3 percent in each of the past five years.

As third-party developer, EdR worked with Raymond James-Morgan Keegan as the placement agent and underwriter to arrange the tax-exempt financing for the project with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Other members of the EdR team are P. Agnes Construction of Philadelphia, Voith & Mctavish Architects of Philadelphia (lead architects) and WTW Architects of Pittsburgh.

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