National Park College officials held a groundbreaking Wednesday for the college's second residence hall for students, Redbud Hall, positioned next to the already established Dogwood Hall.
The additional housing will contain 176 beds within 42,000 square feet.
"NPC began working toward a plan to increase student housing in 2022 in line with NPC's 25-year master plan. The facility is scheduled to open in the summer of 2025," a news release said.
The opening of a second residence hall will allow a greater opportunity for students to go through the NPC experience with the added comforts of living on campus.
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David Braden, senior vice president of operations for Servitas, said he believes the name Redbud Hall is fitting for what the college strives to achieve: transformation and renewal.
"We are committed to nurturing bright minds at National Park College," Braden said.
"Learning is the focus and student success is the goal. With housing insecurity among students growing daily, NPC is helping to fill the gap and provide students with affordable higher education living-learning environments."
Servitas, a nationwide off- and on-campus student housing developer, also did the 52,000-square-foot Dogwood Hall.
The release noted that the demand for on-campus housing "has far outpaced the availability for the past two years."
NPC President John Hogan said that when faculty members asked students what their biggest request was for improving the community, housing remained the number one concern.
"Students continue to express a need for safe, affordable housing and we are responding to that today," he said.
"The students who live in these halls will have better opportunities for academic success and they will build relationships that last a lifetime. Their experiences here will impact the rest of their lives. We are grateful for your investment in this campus and in the success of our students and community."
The mission of NPC to establish a close-knit community among students is evident; Braden said he believes the hall will be a place that allows "friendships to blossom like redbuds in the spring."
Current second-generation NPC student Tyanna Lindsey, who acts as the campus' residential director, said she believes the residence hall "allows for us to have students from all over the world."
"It's interesting to get to know more about people's culture and things that may be different here than they are there," she said.
Lindsey first worked as a residential assistant and was just recently promoted to the director's position. "Working in these positions has allowed me the opportunity to see first-time students come to campus and find who they are as a person."
NPC Board of Trustees Chair Joyce Craft said, "May Redbud Hall, like Dogwood Hall, be a place of refuge and comfort for many generations of students to come."
National Park College President John Hogan welcomes guests to Wednesday's groundbreaking event for Redbud Hall on the NPC campus. (The Sentinel-Record/Lance Brownfield)
Joyce Craft, NPC Board of Trustees chair, explains how the college is responding to the need for safe, affordable housing. (The Sentinel-Record/Lance Brownfield)