Another new project for WSU’s Innovation Campus

A group of Wichita developers announced plans Wednesday for an apartment complex on Wichita State University’s Innovation Campus.

Construction is expected to begin soon on the complex, which will feature 112 apartment units, with full occupancy for 285 residents, according to a news release from WSU. It is expected to open in August 2017.

It will be located south of Eck Stadium and Mike Oatman Drive.

It is being built by MWCB LLC, which is led by David Murfin, Nestor Weigand Jr., Ivan Crossland Jr. and Steve Barrett. The release said no public or university funds or student fees will be used to finance the project.

Lou Heldman, WSU’s vice president for strategic communications, said the project will be paid for by residents’ rents, as any commercial apartment complex is. The rents charged will be market rate, rather than set by the university.

The building will be different from the university’s dormitories in that each unit will have its own bathroom and kitchen.

“It’s been part of the master plan since the beginning,” Heldman said. “What has changed over time is that originally we may have pictured it as a residence hall, but as people studied the market, it looked like apartment-style living is what students want.”

The complex will serve graduate students and undergraduates who are at least sophomores, the release said. Students will have preference as tenants, followed by WSU employees and employees of companies locating on the Innovation Campus, such as Airbus.

Heldman said rent may be higher than apartment complexes elsewhere in the city, but it will offer convenience for those who study or work on campus.

“There is a real trend toward wanting to be less reliant on cars, and work, learn, play and live all within easy walking distance,” he said. “This is patterned after successful innovation districts elsewhere that have grown up around university campuses or, sometimes, research hospitals.”

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 11:05 AM with the headline "Another new project for WSU’s Innovation Campus."