By Karen Fernau
GCU News Bureau
The construction workers hanging drywall and wiring electricity in Grand Canyon University’s newest apartments will be replaced in August by 600 students.
The six-story Diamondback Apartments on GCU’s eastern edge is scheduled to open in time for the 2017-18 school year, said Richard Oesterle, director of campus development.
When open, the apartments will bring the number of students living on campus to a record 11,000.
Like at the Papago, Roadrunner and Agave apartments, Diamondback features four single-person bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen and communal living space.
Interest in living in Diamondback, located north of the parking garage at 29th Avenue and Camelback Road, is high because it’s new, said Matt Hopkins, Residence Life director.
“It’s very appealing to students on several different levels. Let’s just say we are booking apartments,” he said.
Only returning students are eligible to apply to live in the apartments.
Diamondback Apartments is the largest construction project on the fast-growing Phoenix campus, but far from the only.
Here’s a snapshot of GCU’s ongoing expansion:
● Construction of a 24,000-square-foot basketball practice facility next to GCU Arena is nearly complete. The full practice court for both men’s and women’s teams, players’ lounge, team meeting room and offices are finished. The last piece – a Jerry Colangelo museum – is expected to be complete on April 25. The museum will showcase artifacts from the Phoenix sports and business icon.
● The extensive remodel of GCU’s baseball facility, Brazell Stadium, is scheduled for mid-May to January. The 3,500-seat, two-level stadium will include chair-back seats wrapping around the infield, berm seating down the first-base side, two broadcast booths, a team store and a concession stand.
● The second phase to expand the softball stadium will run from mid-May until January. When complete, the 1,500-seat stadium will include chair-back seats, artificial turf, an expanded concourse, dugouts, new restrooms and concessions.
● The artificial turf on the beach volleyball court is scheduled to be finished by Friday.
● A project to install environmentally friendly LED lightbulbs in streetlights on GCU’s perimeter is expected to be completed in May.
Contact Karen Fernau at (602) 639-8344 or [email protected].
