Office of Internal Communications
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November 4, 2004 University of Houston students may soon have a new place to sleep, study and socialize. If approved by the UH System Board of Regents and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Cullen Oaks Apartments at 4600 Cullen Boulevard will be expanded to accommodate more students. During a recent meeting of the regents’ Administration and Finance Committee, Elwyn Lee, UHS vice chancellor and UH vice president for Student Affairs, discussed the expansion project to be voted on during the Nov. 18 board meeting. “This project is a response to the need for additional campus housing,” Lee said. “We strongly feel that this addition will enhance campus life.” The expansion project is budgeted at $16,746,740. It would add 356 beds in 186 furnished apartment units, 256 parking spaces, laundry facilities, a recreation room and student lounge. Lee said that parking is a chief concern and to better utilize campus space, new parking would be added via elevated decks that will be constructed over existing surface parking. American Campus Communities (ACC), a national student-housing provider, is Cullen Oaks’ lessee. The company holds a long-term lease for the land on which Cullen Oaks stands, and manages the property. ACC will hire the architect and construction contractor for the project and supervision will be provided by Student Affairs and Plant Operations, Planning and Construction. If the board approves this project, construction would begin on Dec. 15 and wrap up on Aug. 1, 2005, so that students could move in to the new apartments for the fall semester. “Cullen Oaks does a lot of positive things for the university,” Lee said. “In addition to enhancing campus life, it helps in our efforts to bring truly exceptional students to UH.” Mike Emery
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