By Kari McKenna
UMD community leaders and development partners gathered Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of Discovery House, an apartment complex for graduate students.
Discovery House is the first university-affiliated graduate housing complex to open in 31 years. The complex opened in August and offers living options ranging from studios to five-bedroom units. There are 451 total units that can house up to 741 students, doubling the capacity for graduate housing.
UMD now ranks second among Big Ten Conference schools with the most graduate housing available.
UMD President Darryll Pines and Associate Provost and Graduate School Dean Stephen Roth spoke at the event. First-year graduate student, community assistant and resident at Discovery House Colin Freas and several other development partners also spoke.
Roth shared that for decades, graduate students have pushed for additional housing that is affordable and accessible to campus. While the apartment complex doesn’t have luxuries like pools or rock walls, it meets the priorities of graduate students.
“We really wanted to ensure that graduate student voice was part of the design community,” Roth said.
Freas noted the convenience of living close to campus, the Metro and grocery stores.
“I go to Trader Joe’s all the time, so being that close to everything is really awesome,” Freas said.
Beyond meeting residents’ needs, Discovery House has created academic opportunities for students.
Discovery House is home to the Grand Challenges Graduate Communities, where students can work with faculty and residents on pressing societal issues. The initiative is the first of its kind across the United States, Pines said.
“The communities are designed not only to support the connection and belonging, but also spark the next innovations in solving the grand challenges of our time,” Roth said.
In addition to discussing and researching various topics, students and staff can participate in beneficial events held in the complex. They plan to host guest speakers, workshops and career and professional development events.
“We have already done a resource fair that was very well attended,” Roth said.
These events and academic organizations have built a comforting community for graduate students, which Freas noted during his speech.
He said the community and culture at UMD are typically more established for undergraduate students than for graduate students, but Discovery House has helped the process immensely.
“Discovery House has made that transition much easier by giving me the opportunity to build new connections, establish a new support network and find a community of people that are navigating many of the same changes and challenges that I am,” Freas said.
The new complex is ultimately a turning point for graduate students at UMD, supporting their academic and social development.
“Together, we can continue to make Discovery House a hub for our grad students, who will change our society and change lives for the better,” Pines said.
Featured image: A stage and chairs are set outside the Discovery House main entrance to prepare for speeches from faculty and the audience in attendance. Photo by Kari McKenna