A rendering of The Opus Group's student housing project near the University of Kansas.

LAWRENCE, KS—The Opus Group reports that construction has begun on a new three-story, mixed-use student living community on the edge of the University of Kansas campus here. The building, to be completed by July 2020, will include 120 residential units accommodating 312 residents, as well as 8,200 square feet of retail.

The project is a joint venture with The McKinney Fund & Company, with Central Bank of St. Louis and Central Bank of the Midwest providing the construction financing for the project. Opus is the developer, design-builder, the architect, structural engineer of record and interior designer on the project. No financial details of the project were released.

“It's exciting to see the continued growth of Opus' Student Living platform as we begin construction on our newest project in Lawrence,” says Ben Angelo, senior director, real estate development, at Opus. “This project will help meet the demand of an underserved market for student housing and provide the residents and the community with the best-in-class living and retail experience that Opus prides itself on delivering. Additionally, we are confident that it will serve as a catalyst for continued redevelopment of the 23rd Street Commercial Corridor, which will further enhance our project and the surrounding community.”

Centrally located and just a few minutes from the University of Kansas campus on 23rd Street, the development is the first in Lawrence to use the new Smart Code portion of the city's zoning code, which will require the project to incorporate more civic spaces and encourage intermodal forms of transportation and less automobile usage.

As a result, future residents will have the option to take public transportation via an enhanced bus stop adjacent to the property, which is undergoing changes to make it more accessible for residents and community members. Furthermore, the project will include a Bike/Hike Oasis on the southern end of property that will offer residents and trail users an area to refresh and relax. The trail leads directly to campus.

The building's indoor amenities will include a fitness center, spa with sauna, club room, game room, private and group study spaces, and a podcast booth. The outdoor amenities will include an outdoor terrace area along 23rd Street in front of the retail space for public use, an outdoor pool, fire pits, gas BBQ grills and an outdoor fitness area.

Leasing for the apartments and retail space will begin in August 2019.

Last month, The Opus Group announced plans to construct a two-building industrial development totaling 264,000 square feet located in Denver's Southeast submarket in the Dove Valley Business Park. Opus closed on the land purchase and construction on both buildings was scheduled to begin this month with completion by year's-end.

Minneapolis-based The Opus Group includes Opus Holding, L.L.C. and its operating subsidiaries: Opus Development Company, L.L.C., Opus Design Build, L.L.C. and Opus AE Group, L.L.C and specializes in industrial, office, residential, retail, healthcare and institutional projects.

Instant Insights /

The Opus Group Breaks Ground on University of Kansas Student Housing Project

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