Renovation Series: Rock Creek retirement home converted to off-campus housing

Photo by Jaylin King

This year we have a new living environment opportunity for the students of Ottawa University. This option is off-campus apartments to accomodate for the overflow of students that we have this school year. This new housing option is OU’s Rock Creek.

Before the university used the building for student housing, it was a retirement home for elderly individuals in Ottawa. But no worries, the retirement home actually moved to the next building on the street. If you were wondering where Rock Creek is, it’s on 15th Street, two blocks past the Ottawa Goppert Building. The address to Rock Creek is 1042 W. 15th Street, Ottawa.

Now I know some of you are thinking, “Eww, students are living in a retirement home?” Well if you want to be technical, yes, yes they are. But after all of the renovations and work that has been done to the building, it more  resembles a hotel than an assisted-living facility. Rock Creek is a two-floor building with 40 rooms. Each room has its own bathroom with a shower, toilet and sink. Other than the bathroom, the room has a kitchenette as well. Every room has carpet except for the kitchenette area. 

The renovations that were done were to transform it into something cozy. New furniture was put in, appliances were installed  and the carpets were shampooed by Kris Cleaning Services. Community appliances were also installed, like washers and dryers, vending machines, 65 inch and 32 inch televisions and a ping pong table. And for a bonus, the university issued each room their own wifi router so the students can have speedy internet access.

There are two Resident Assistants (RAs) on staff at Rock Creek to help the students get through the school year: senior Nicole Brey and junior Jaylin King, along with Resident Director, Nyia Duncan. If you are a student who wants to get a tour of Rock Creek, contact Dylann Finley, our new Residence Life Coordinator, at dylann.finley@ottawa.edu.