On the cover, the new Oak Place Apartments, which opens this month to students.

Oak Place Apartments: The new facility, located across the street from the new Oak Street Residence Hall, will include parking, retail shops, suites containing private bedrooms and more.

The newly constructed apartments, 5050 Oak St., allow residents to enjoy lockable one-person bedrooms, private bathrooms and in-room laundry machines. Each apartment, which includes from one to four bedrooms, offers a shared living room fully furnished with a sectional sofa, coffee table and entertainment center. Each suite’s kitchen features a dining counter with barstools, dishwasher, refrigerator and stove. Each bedroom contains a full-size bed, bathroom, dresser and computer desk.

Following are some examples of Oak Place’s amenities:

• Educational seminars offered to undergraduates and home purchasing programs available for older students
• Two courtyards for residents to play sports, grill out and hang out at picnic tables
• A community center with a pool table and plasma TV
• A 24-hour fitness center
• A restaurant and convenience store set to open in mid-September

As of July 28, Oak Place was 73 percent occupied. Rent prices include water, sewer, electricity, expanded cable with HBO and high-speed Internet (WiFi and Ethernet). Each floor also contains a computer lab. Rental rates are listed at Oak Place Amenities. To learn more about Oak Place Apartments, call the leasing office at 816-931-0269 or visit Oak Place Online.

Oak Street Hall: Located across the street from the new Oak Place Apartments, the Oak Street Residence Hall (Oak Street Hall) started accepting students for housing in August 2004.

This stately residence hall offers study rooms, kitchenettes and social lounges on each floor, plus room for 559 students, a high-tech classroom, music practice rooms and an outdoor courtyard.

Floor plans are designed into 11 divided "community areas" where students can get to know other students with similar interests and academic goals.

Oak Street Hall includes:

• Social lounges and quiet study rooms
• Kitchenettes and vending areas on each floor
• A lounge/recreation area with community kitchen
• A 1,000-square-foot classroom fully wired with built-in projection
• Three music practice rooms
• Large outdoor courtyard with grills and green space
• Shared private bathroom in suite style area

  
  
  

  

  Bloch Terrace and Park: The children of benefactors Henry and Marion Bloch recently funded the construction of the Marion Bloch Terrace and Park. The site, located on the south hill of the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration, includes winding paths, flower gardens, a rain garden, benches and lighting.

  
  
  

  

  Student Union: In 2011, students will have a new Student Union on this site, located just south of the Cherry Street Residence Hall and University Way, a newly constructed, lighted walkway from Cherry to Oak streets.

  The first phase of the $38.4 million project will involve site preparation, where the new Student Union will be situated. The official construction of the new building is slated to begin May 2009, with a grand opening scheduled for fall 2011.

  
  
  

  

  Durwood Stadium: On the site of the current track, just west of Swinney Recreation Center, UMKC in 2009 will offer a modern soccer stadium.

  Thanks to a $5 million pledged gift from the Stanley H. Durwood Foundation, the Stanley H. Durwood Stadium will provide the Kangaroos with one of the top soccer facilities in the Summit League and the Midwest. In addition to serving the student-athletes, the facility will play home to student intramurals. The signature facility also calls for the construction of locker rooms and offices that will benefit the UMKC men’s and women’s soccer, softball and men’s and women’s track and field programs. It also will feature a premier four-lane track and a concession area.

  The new soccer venue is anticipated to be completed for the new UMKC Women’s Soccer Program’s first game in 2009. The entire complex is slated to open in the spring of 2010.

  
  

  

  Health Sciences Building: The Health Science Building, located on the Hospital Hill campus with the schools of Dentistry and Medicine, opened to Pharmacy and Nursing in fall 2007.

  The facility includes expanded lab space, classrooms, offices, lounges, computer rooms and more.

  The total project cost was $65.2 million, which includes private and federal funding, and the original $30.6 million state appropriation and additional $15 million state funding approved earlier this year to complete several classrooms and labs.

  Library Expansion: For more about the Miller Nichols Library expansion, see the story in this month's e-Roos at Library Expansion Underway.

  More Construction: There are plans for additional new construction on campus, including an expanded Performing Arts Center. e-Roos will spotlight this project and others in upcoming issues.

  www.UMKC.edu