Following a two-year closure, Kalapuya Ilihi, a residence hall, is set to open in fall 2025 for the 2025 to 2026 academic school year.
Kalapuya Ilihi, which originally opened in 2017, temporarily closed in July 2023 to fix structural issues and cracks in several walls, The Daily Emerald reported. At the time, the University of Oregon filed a $7.5 million lawsuit against the construction companies that helped build the hall.
According to UO’s website, features of Kalapuya Ilhi, which is named for the Indigenous peoples of the Willamette Valley and sits across the lawn from UO’s Many Nations Longhouse, include a maker-hacker space, multiple study and collaboration spaces and a community kitchen.
The residence hall was originally set to reopen one year later in fall 2024, but was delayed until fall 2025.
In an email statement to The Daily Emerald, Michael Griffel, associate vice president of student services and enrollment management, said that visible changes to Kalapuya Ilihi include new flooring and flooring finishes, lighting, wall surfaces and painting.
“The building looks great,” Griffel said.
According to Griffel, Kalapuya Ilihi can house between 630 to 680 students.
Kalapuya is home to two Residential Communities and two Academic Residential Communities and a faculty member in residence, according to UO’s website.
The two Academic Residential Communications are the Art Academics Residential Community and the Native American and Indigenous Studies Academic Residential Community.
The two Residential Communities are the Home Flight Scholars Residential Community and the Creative Practice Residential Community.
Following the reopening, Griffel confirmed that 14 Resident Assistants have been assigned to the hall for the next academic year.
Maverick Gagnon, an RA assigned to Kalapuya Ilihi for the 2025 to 2026 academic school year, said he is looking forward to the building reopening again.
“I’m really looking forward to (Kalapuya Ilihi) because of the views. I’m holding out hope that I either get a view of the tree and little hill or the grass lawn. I like that it (the building) is a bit tucked away from the bustle,” Gagnon said.
In addition to getting to live in the Kalapuya Ilihi, Gagnon said he’s also excited about his role as an RA.
“I’m most looking forward to cultivating a community and ensuring my residents feel welcome and safe,” Gagnon said.
The extended renovation of Kalapuya Ilihi in 2024 meant further delays in the Hamilton-Walton Transformation Project, which included the demolition of Hamilton Hall.
“I think the reopening of Kalapuya Ilihi is a good thing for the UO community because it gives students a different option for residents and it’s a good use of the already existing structures,” Gagnon said.
