Concordia announces major campus housing and commercial development project 

The Concordia College Board of Regents has approved a $20 million campus redevelopment project that will add 56 modern student apartments and commercial space along Eighth Street South, expanding housing options and creating new opportunities to connect campus with the surrounding community. 

The four-story, 81,853-square-foot building will include three floors of market-rate apartments designed primarily for juniors and seniors, along with ground-floor commercial space and amenities for residents.  

The project will redevelop the site of existing buildings at 801 10th Ave. S., 1022 8th St. S., and 1102 8th St. S. The buildings include Boe-Olsen Apartments, the Advancement Center, and units that formerly housed international students. The Welcome Center at the corner of 12th Avenue will not be affected. 

“This is about so much more than new living spaces,” said Concordia College President Colin Irvine. “It’s about doubling down on our residential learning model that is at the heart of the Concordia experience.

The design responds to students’ preferences for private living spaces and communal areas that support socializing and wellness.  

The building will include 53 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments and two three-bedroom, two-bathroom units. All units will have air conditioning, in-unit laundry, and an all-inclusive rental rate that covers utilities.   

Planned amenities include a fitness facility, lobby, lounge, and clubhouse space connected to an outdoor patio along Eighth Street. Large windows will bring natural light throughout the building.  

Project Timeline

Construction, including demolition of the existing buildings, is slated to begin in January 2027. The apartments are planned to open in August 2028. 

The commercial space is expected to open the following year.  

“We want Concordia to be an active, welcoming part of the Moorhead community, with spaces that bring people together in meaningful ways,” Irvine said. “This project creates an opportunity to connect campus life with the surrounding neighborhood and bring new activity to Eighth Street. It’s an investment in both the student experience and our relationship with the community we call home.” 

The new apartments will be in addition to Concordia’s 94 existing apartment-style housing units at Bogstad Manor and its campus townhouses. 

Building Momentum

The redevelopment builds on recent investments across campus. In 2024, the college completed a $2.8 million track and turf project, enhancing facilities for outdoor athletics; and, in September of this year, Concordia completed a $2.5 million renovation of Memorial Auditorium, updating the courts, seating, lighting, and video scoreboards in a venue that serves student-athletes, musicians, and the broader campus community.  

The college also recently announced a $6 million commitment from John ’66 and Eileen (Sletten) ’68 Quello to establish the Quello Institute for Music and Creative Arts, which will support students and faculty, foster innovation and collaboration across disciplines, and elevate the visibility and impact of the arts throughout the campus and community.