Students at Case Western Reserve University are no strangers to housing demands. So, in response to the increased size of the classes of 2016 and 2017, the university planned a new residence hall in the North Residential Village. Its construction was approved by university and community officials earlier this month.

The still unnamed residence hall will be located on East 115 St. across from Nobby’s Ballpark, in the field formerly used for track and field throwing events. Meanwhile, the university must investigate alternative locations for track and field throwing events.

Construction will begin this May, and the building will have a completion time of August 2015.

“This is an exciting experience with the short timeline,” said Janice Gerda, director of Residence Life. “Many people here will see it and perhaps live in it before they graduate.”

The new residence hall will be open to students in the Upper Class Experience, and will house over 250 students (roughly one-third the size of the whole The Village at 115). Like other upperclassman housing options, the new building will have an apartment-style setup, with one, two and four bedroom apartments. Additionally, the layout includes eight double occupancy townhouses directly adjacent to the main building. Some amenities include a multipurpose room, a lounge with a fireplace and an active learning classroom.

Plans for the building put a large emphasis on sustainability. The layout of the building has a unique “S” shape to make space for outdoor gatherings and to increase the amount of natural light that enters each room. Two green roofs and several plantings will also be incorporated into the building.

Development costs for the $40 million new building will be recouped through total housing fees from all on-campus residents. The specific cost of living in the new residence hall is currently not set, but is expected to be comparable to current upperclassmen options, according to Office of Housing and Residence Life officials.

The Village at 115, the newest residence hall on campus, is also designed for upperclassmen. However, those concerned about underclassmen housing are encouraged by the Office of Housing and Residence Life to submit input regarding future developments, particularly those for freshmen and sophomores, to the university’s ongoing master plan process.