General move-in at Wolverine Village began Wednesday, with students traveling from across the country with their families to move into the University of Michigan’s newest residence hall.
The $649 million residence hall, which is located on the former Elbel Field site on Hill Street, is split between five buildings with a courtyard in the middle.
Engineering freshman Caroline Ward moved in early Monday. In an interview with The Michigan Daily, Ward said Wolverine Village was her first-choice.
“We did the self-selection, so we got to choose here, and I was very happy we got here,” Ward said. “I wanted to be close to (Central Campus), and I wanted to have AC in the new dorms.”
Wolverine Village stands out from other residence halls for its unique sustainability features. As the University’s first housing facility to feature geo-exchange heating and cooling, it uses the Earth’s moderate temperature as an energy source to warm and cool buildings. The dorm also has solar panels, covered bicycle parking and a bicycle repair room.
Jose Pizarro, the father of an LSA freshman, was visiting from Puerto Rico for move-in. In an interview with The Daily in the dorm’s courtyard, he said he feels the dorm was well thought-out.
“I like that you have this central open space right here — creates that sense of community,” Pizarro said. “And then you have your own private space for activities and all that, and then you have the dining hall right here, so I think it was very well-designed and thought about.”
The residence hall adds another 2,300 beds to on-campus housing, providing additional space for both first-year and returning students to live on Central Campus.
Wolverine Village is farther away from the Diag than most other residence halls on Central Campus. To assist students with their commutes, the University will double the frequency of Commuter North and Commuter South bus routes starting this fall, in addition to new weekend service and bus stops near the complex.
LSA freshman Madeline Quint told The Daily she requested to live in Wolverine Village because it was the newest residence hall. Quint said she remains positive about the distance.
“Honestly, I was dreading it at first,” Quint said. “But now, looking on the positive side, I’m going to get my steps in, just get to see more of campus, so honestly I’m really glad.”
The Wolverine Village Dining Hall has more than 800 seats, and is the first on campus to use all-electric culinary appliances. The dining hall’s second floor has private event rooms and a teaching kitchen, which provides interactive learning experiences about food, culture, and sustainability in a partnership between LSA and Michigan Dining.
LSA freshman Anish Kulkarni told The Daily he was fond of the new dining hall.
“The dining hall is awesome,” Kulkarni said. “I think it’s the best one on campus. It’s better than South Quad for sure.”
Wolverine Village is home to two living-learning communities: the Michigan Sustainability Community — which is also housed in Oxford Houses — and the Bridge Scholars Plus program.
Last month, the University sent an email notifying Building 4 residents that construction delays might lead them to be temporarily assigned to another residence hall. However, construction was ultimately completed on time, and all Wolverine Village residents are able to move in on their scheduled move-in date.
Managing News Editor Christina Zhang can be reached at zchristi@umich.edu.
