Winona State University planning on building new residence hall after dorms hit highest capacity in 16 years

WINONA (WKBT)-- When Kenneth Janz first started working at Winona State University, capacity in the residence halls was at more than 100 percent.

"We actually had to double up and triple up in some rooms and we used our study lounges as residence hall rooms," Janz said.

Sixteen years later, Winona State enrollment is at its highest in more than a decade and the university's president says it's about time to build some new dorms. Dorms are at 98 percent capacity and the university is planning on building a new residence hall.

The new residence hall will be at the corner of Mark & Main Streets. Janz says the 340 rooms will give them the space they need, not only to house new students, but to make repairs on the existing dorms.

"The plan is that we would build a new residence hall and it would give us some breathing room," Janz explained. "Then take each year a residence hall offline to actually do some work on them, add some air conditioning and get it ready for students to come back and reoccupy."

According to Janz, enrollment is up mostly because of 'North Star Promise,' a Minnesota program offering free tuition to families with a household income of less than $80,000.

Mark 7 Main Residence Hall will be the university's first new dorm in more than 14 years. Residence hall director Sarah Olcott says it will give students a better housing experience.

"Bigger common areas. More privacy, temperature control, things that they really want in a living environment," she explained.

There's no cost estimate yet, but Janz says room and board fees would cover any loans for the project. Officials also don't have a start date for construction.

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