Prince Frederick Hall, the university’s newest residence hall, is one of the more expensive dorms on campus.
After three years and $66 million in checks, Prince Frederick Hall opened its doors to student this fall, a feat celebrated Friday at the building’s official grand opening celebration.
Department of Resident Life Director Deb Grandner welcomed Prince Frederick Hall residents to their “new home” at the dedication event.
Staff members from Resident Life, Dining Services, the Department of Residential Facilities, Student Affairs and the Dairy gathered at Prince Frederick Hall to celebrate its opening.
Grander said she was proud to be able to dedicate this “cutting-edge, beautiful, sustainable” facility after years of work.
The building features traditional and suite-style dorm rooms on each floor, carpeted halls, several seminar rooms and social spaces, a communal kitchen and energy star and water-conserving appliances. Grandner said it is expected to earn an LEED Gold Certification.
Student Affairs Assistant Vice President Mary Hummel said her favorite part of the new building were the bathrooms, and Residence Hall Association President Sree Sinha said she was a “big fan” of the kitchen.
“I know it’s a concern I’ve had in the past as a resident student,” Sinha said. “Sometimes it’s nice to be able to make a birthday cake for your friend.”
Sinha got the honor of cutting the ribbon during the dedication ceremony, officially signaling the building’s opening.
The hall primarily houses students from the Digital Cultures and Creativity and Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students living-learning programs. The building also has a brand new ACES lab on the bottom floor.
Freshman journalism major Christina Paras is a DCC student and a Prince Frederick Hall resident. She said she and her roommate have more room than they had expected, and she really likes having her own thermostat in the room.
“We’re just lucky, I guess,” Paras said. “Our other friends living in regular dorms are always like ‘We want to live here!’”
The dedication day included free tours of the new hall, remarks made by Grandner, Hummel, and Sinha, and refreshments, including a new ice cream flavor called “P. Freddy’s Party,” with vanilla ice cream, cake pieces and a hint of triple sec liqueur.
Another DCC resident, sophomore aerospace engineering major Collin Schirf said he enjoyed the ice cream and he likes his new living space much better than his freshman hall, Queen Anne’s.
“It’s always nice to have new things,” Schirf said.
