Baker College opens new student housing

Build it, and they will come, stay and succeed.

That’s the premise behind creation of the new student housing located on the waterfront at 2010 St. Clair Street, Port Huron, adjacent to Baker College of Port Huron’s Culinary Institute of Michigan. The resultant synergies also help support the economic development of the entire area.

Baker College representatives, elected officials and others in economic development in the Port Huron area cut the ribbon to officially open the new $3.5 million, 49-bed student housing complex Wednesday, Oct. 21. The building’s first residents from four states, including Michigan, moved into the 17 new fully furnished apartments last month in time for 2015 fall quarter.

“Credit goes to the leadership and instructors of the CIM Port Huron for rapidly establishing a center of excellence in culinary studies since it opened in 2012,” said F. James Cummins, Baker College System president and CEO. “Their success is fueling the need for this building. Quality, on-campus housing has proven to increase student success and retention, and build community.”

The 40,000-square-foot facility was designed to provide Baker College students a convenient and safe environment that caters to the unique needs of students and supports their success in the classroom.

The 16 student apartments are either two- or four-person suites, housing 48. There is one apartment for a live-in residence coordinator. The common areas include lounges, a study area, and an entertainment area with billiards, pingpong and a fireplace.

A shade of blue similar to the color of the water of the St. Clair River was used in the interior design. It accents the breathtaking views of the river throughout the building.

Lodging cost per student is $1,200 for a two-person suite and $1,000 for a four-person suite each quarter. Fees for summer quarter will be waived for full-time students.

Orion Construction Inc. was the contractor.

Orion President Roger Rehkopf said, “We continue to be impressed by the commitment of Baker College leadership to their students and educational system. We thank our team, partners and subcontractors for staying on schedule through a tough winter and for delivering the housing on time and within budget. We also thank the City of Port Huron for their insight and coordination, and we hope the students at Baker College enjoy their new homes.”

For more information about Baker College of Port Huron, contact Dan Kenny in the admissions office at 810.985.7000, 888.262.2442 or daniel.kenny@baker.edu.

About Baker College

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is a not-for-profit higher education institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. It serves more than 23,000 students on multiple campuses and online. Baker grants certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in more than 150 programs across diverse academic fields, including business, health sciences, engineering, information technology, education and human services. An impressive 97 percent of available graduates are employed. Every Baker graduate receives Lifetime Employment Assistance—free and forever. Baker is a pioneer in distance education and offers students the option of completing a degree 100 percent online, without ever visiting a campus. For information, visit www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, @bakercollege, or on Facebook, www.facebook.com/bakercollege.

About Orion Construction Inc.

Orion is a multi-service construction company, active throughout the Midwest, with resources to handle projects of any size and complexity. Founded in 2000, the company provides general contracting, construction management, design/build services, and sustainable/LEED consulting across a wide variety of business sectors. Visit www.orionbuilt.com.