Dorothy Brewster Hall
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, Washington

In September 2002, nearly 140 Eastern Washington University students moved into the Dorothy Brewster Residence Hall. The new $5.5 million residence hall, located in downtown Cheney, is one of the first facilities at the 4-year institution to place students in the heart of Cheney’s historic business community.

The hall—organized into apartment-style suites consisting of a living room, bathroom, kitchenette, and two to four bedrooms—was an instant success, and has remained full since its opening. The building also includes 7,000 square feet of commercial space, and is home to a coffee shop and a book store. The partnership between CollegeTown and Eastern Washington University has been so successful that plans are underway for a second phase to be built on land adjacent to Brewster Hall.

Brewster Hall Features: The residential facility at EWU consists of the following:

• Suite-style living, where students experience apartment-like accommodations without sacrificing the advantages of life in a residence hall
• Each suite contains 2, 3, or 4 large single rooms, furnished with a “loftable” bed, dresser, desk, chair, and wardrobe.
• Residents in each suite share a full bathroom, large living room, kitchen, and dining area. The common area comes furnished with a refrigerator, sink, couch, coffee table, and a dining table equipped with four chairs
• Large community lounges are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors. The 3rd floor atrium is equipped with a gas fire place and sky light.
• High speed internet and cable television are provided in all rooms.

Relationship with EWU: EWU operates the residential portion of the project through a 20-year master lease. The school sets the room pricing and oversees the management and operations of the housing and residence life portion of the project. CTD manages the retail component of the project.

Design and Construction: Project financing, bidding, and contracting were the responsibility of CTD’s forerunner, ConoverBond. Ground-up construction on Brewster Hall began in March of 2002; six months later the facility officially opened its doors. The project was delivered on time and on budget, despite the aggressive objectives.

Retail Component: EWU assumed no responsibility for the commercial development of the facility’s first floor. The book store and coffee house in Brewster Hall attract students and community members, and provides additional dining choices and entertainment for the community.

Community Presence: Brewster Hall made a significant impact on the small college community of Cheney, Washington, by better connecting the university with the city’s downtown core. By creating a “college town” environment in what has historically been a sleepy farming community, Brewster Hall has helped bring increased student activity to downtown businesses.