San Jose State University
08/16/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Spartan Village on the Paseo Welcomes Inaugural Cohort of Spartan Residents
Nearly 700 students will call Spartan Village on the Paseo (SVP) home this fall, nine months after the announcementof a unique student housing concept that will position San José State as a national model for urban residential living.
What was once the south tower of the Signia by Hilton San José hotel complex has been converted into 679 beds of student housing, a dining commons, a fitness center, an e-sports/gaming space, study lounges, and a skybridge providing views of the Paseo de San Antonio and the Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
SVP is the Bay Area's largest post-pandemic conversion of a downtown commercial property to residential housing. In its first year, residency is at full capacity, with students excited about the ability to live in SJSU-owned housing downtown San José and still be close to campus.
"It's pretty much amazing," said freshman Angela Makihele. "The rooms are nice and spacious and the amenities are great. I'm looking forward to living here."
SJSU's Facilities Development and Operations and Student Affairs teams led the around-the-clock renovation of the space following the agreement for SJSU to lease the building from Throckmorton Partners in November 2023. SJSU will take advantage of the $89 million in debt relief flexibility provided by the Higher Education Student Housing (HESH) grant from the State of California and CSU systemwide revenue bonds to fund the eventual purchase of the building and land.
In order to complete the renovation in time for the arrival of students before the start of the 2024 fall semester, an average of 120-150 workers were on the site every day, and a total of approximately 200 individual workers contributed their talents and trades to the project.
"The work required to open Spartan Village on the Paseo for our students was herculean and I want to express my deep gratitude to the leaders, staff and workers who literally worked around the clock to make it possible, and to the elected officials who paved the path for us to open this building on time." said SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson. "We are offering our students a state-of-the-art residential experience, filling a critical need for affordable housing and injecting downtown San José with vibrancy and energy. Every Spartan should be incredibly proud of this moment."
"We have immense gratitude for our developer, Throckmorton Partners, as well as the design team led by Multistudio and our general contractor Build Group along with the various subcontractors, and trade worker communities who helped us complete this project on time," said Traci Ferdolage, senior associate vice president of Facilities Development and Operations. "The commitment required working more than 10-hour days, 6 days per week throughout the project with an even more intense effort these last few weeks and was absolutely critical. The dedication of everyone on the job to ensure our students have a new place to call home was beyond commendable."
More than 120 student beds will be leased at below-market rates to students who demonstrate significant financial need. Along with serving as an innovative way to address the crucial need for additional student housing options, SVP expands the university's footprint deeper into downtown San José.
"I congratulate San José State and its partners for the momentous opening of the Spartan Village on the Paseo," said CSU Chancellor Mildred García. "This innovative public-private partnership demonstrates the university's deep commitment to student success and its tenacity in quickly meeting the urgent need for additional, affordable undergraduate housing options. SJSU's bold and creative approach also serves as a potential model for other CSU campuses for increasing housing capacity for our diverse and talented students."
Building amenities include on-site dining with full catering similar to what students experience at the on campus dining commons. A community kitchen will also be open to all residents to prepare their own meals or have a nice get together with friends over a meal. Additionally, the second floor includes a fitness center, student study spaces and meeting rooms, and a dual-purpose movie screening and gaming room. SJSU Housing will have an on-site presence through Resident Advisors (RA) and professional Residential Life Coordinators (RLC) staff, who will develop and offer social activities and programming.
"It's a unique opportunity for students to live in the heart of the downtown city center," said Eric Rollerson, the executive director of University Housing Services. "The best part is that it is just a few blocks away from campus, so students can still feel that sense of integration with the SJSU community."