KGI Gains Momentum with Plans for Campus Housing Project

In a highly anticipated development, Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) is planning a housing project that will accommodate the school’s growth and the needs of its students.

On Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., Claremont’s Architectural Commission will meet at City Hall (207 N. Harvard Ave.) to discuss the project. To raise awareness about the housing plans, KGI has unveiled the build.kgi.edu site, which encourages community members to sign a petition in support of the project.

The proposal features two new four-story campus buildings on the existing vacant lot at the southwest corner of Bucknell Avenue and Wharton Drive/Santa Fe Street.

“We want to be a part of the student’s story, and we want the students to be a part of our story as we grow as an institution,” KGI President Sheldon Schuster said. “Where you live matters, and the way that environment interacts with your learning is crucial. The housing will be the first of many steps in building the relationship between the students and our institution.”

The campus housing project will raise the quality of life and the level of academics for KGI students. It will also feature environment-friendly aspects, including LEED certification, walkable communities, and lower water consumption. Additional parking will accommodate the project and future KGI growth without impacting surrounding neighborhoods.

Additionally, the project will promote revitalization of the area south of the railroad tracks while serving as a catalyst for future growth of the Indian Hill corridor.

“Having students on campus 24-7 adds a true collegial feel to KGI,” School of Pharmacy professor Robert Stein said. “It is a really exciting time to be here and to witness this growth.”

The development will support KGI’s mission, which is to enrich society with breakthrough approaches to education and translational research in the life sciences.

“In seeing the plans for on-campus housing, I think it is going to be incredible for our international students and even students who are out of state or a little further away,” said Nancy Matti, a Master of Engineering student. “We are all making a mark on industry, and we are training to be involved in our community. It makes me very proud as a student to be a part of it all.”