KIMEP will build a new residence hall to replace the current 400-student hall, university officials said this March.
The decision follows an evaluation of renovation costs and long-term housing needs of students. Officials initially considered renovating the existing facility but determined that constructing a new building would be a better use of university funds.
“The price of the renovation was around $7 million, and it would probably take a year and a half to two years,” said Timothy Barnett, provost and general deputy to the president of KIMEP University. “We would have to rent a facility for the current students, which is also very expensive—another one or two million dollars, depending on how long students would be there. So we felt that it was a bad usage of students’ funds and decided that the best thing to do would be to build a completely new building.”
Current Residence Hall Will Stay Open
The university confirmed that students will not be displaced during construction. The current residence hall will remain open until the new building is completed.
“We won’t close this residence hall,” said Barnett. “While the new residence hall is being built, we will be able to continue using the current residence hall without shutting it down.”
The timeline for the project depends on the selection of an architect and the approval of construction plans. The university launched the bidding process for architects in December and is in the final stages of decision-making.
“We went out to bid in December, we received four bids, and today is actually the end of the second bidding period,” said Barnett. “Depending on the bids we receive, we’ll try to make a decision on an architect.”
Once construction begins, it is expected to take approximately 18 months to two years to complete.
Student Housing Costs and Concerns
The price of student housing at KIMEP has been rising, which has been a concern among students who feel the current dormitory does not provide enough value for its cost.
“For the semester, it’s 384,179 tenge,” said Nurbolat Kyran, a public relations major. “I don’t like the current residence hall because the price doesn’t match the quality, and they will increase the price by 10% every semester.”
Some students said there were also maintenance issues in the residence hall.
“One of the main concerns about the current dormitory building is the condition of the elevator,” said Ismoilova Indira, an information systems major. “It is quite old and frequently breaks down, causing inconvenience, especially for students living on higher floors. I believe the maintenance of this facility needs significant improvement.”
Other students said a more modern building is warranted.
“I think that there is nothing that I really don’t like, but I think it could be better in terms of using new technology,” said Dilnoza Nazarkhudoeva, a journalism student. “I mean in kitchens, laundries, and bathrooms.”
Janel Jaukashova, a journalism student, said the building’s condition does not meet students’ expectations.
“The building is old. I couldn’t say that it’s really bad—it’s fine. But when you hear about KIMEP, not the cheapest university, you expect something better,” she said.
Some students said they were informed about the reconstruction plans through unofficial channels before receiving an official notice.
“We haven’t received the official letter from the administration yet, but the residence hall assistants told us that soon there will be a reconstruction of the KIMEP dormitory,” said Safina Khushyachinova, a digital journalism major.
New Residence Hall Plans
The new dormitory is expected to have an increased capacity of up to 500 students, compared to the current residence hall, which accommodates 400 students. University officials said they in recent years the university has had to turn away some students because the residence hall was full..
Though final design details have not been determined, officials said they aim to include modern facilities.
“We don’t have any details—we just have dreams right now,” said Barnett. “Once we have an architect hired, we will have a student group meet with an architect and talk about what their expectations are.”
Some ideas for the new building include improved study spaces and recreational areas.
“We would expect that there will be a recreation area, study areas, kitchens, possibly even an upper-class floor,” said Barnett. “So we would have maybe 300-400 undergraduate students or lower-class students, and third- and fourth-year students would be in suites rather than dorm rooms.”
Student opinions on the current dormitory’s location and amenities vary.
“I like our current dorm,” said Khushyachinova. “I like that it’s really close to the university, and I don’t have any complaints because it’s clean. They clean twice every day.”
Some students have specific requests for the new facility.
“I would like to have a big mirror in the dorm, just to see my outfits,” said Khushyachinova.
University Offices Will Be Moved
In addition to student housing, the current residence hall includes several university offices. These offices will also be relocated when the new dormitory is built.
“We have the Student Affairs Office, we have medical offices, we have our psychologist’s office, and then the offices of the residence hall staff themselves,” said Christopher Bridges, dean of student affairs.
Officials have not yet announced where these offices will be moved or whether they will be incorporated into the new residence hall.
The university has not finalized the cost of living in the new residence hall. Officials said the pricing will depend on construction costs and material expenses.
“We have talked about it, but we have to wait and see what the cost of the materials are,” said Barnett.
Students who plan to stay in the dormitory during the construction period may see additional adjustments to housing options.
“Last year, in fall 2024, we had already received new dormitory options, but we, as dormitory residents, said that we didn’t like them,” said Khushyachinova.
University’s Long-Term Housing Strategy
The new residence hall is part of the university’s broader plan to improve student housing and campus facilities. Officials said they are focused on balancing affordability with quality improvements.
Assel Tokina, director of the Residence Hall and Housing Department, said the university is still gathering information and will update students when more details are available.
“Thank you for your interest in the dormitory reconstruction,” Tokina said in an emailed statement. “At the moment, we do not have complete information on this issue. As soon as we receive all the necessary data, we will contact you to arrange a meeting.”
The university plans to involve students in the design process to ensure that the new dormitory meets their needs. Officials said they will provide updates as construction planning progresses.
“We want students to be part of the process,” said Barnett. “Once we have an architect hired, we’ll have student groups meet with the architect and share their expectations.”
For now, students will continue living in the current residence hall while construction planning continues. The university has not announced a projected final date, but estimates suggest it will take at least 18 months to two years to finish the new building once construction begins.