American Campus Communities and UC Berkeley Celebrate Grand Opening of New Graduate Student Housing Complex: xučyun ruwway

xučyun ruwway — named in honor of the East Bay Ohlone people — expands access of university-owned housing dedicated to graduate student community

JANUARY 16, 2025 – University of California Berkeley and American Campus Communities (NYSE: ACC), a Blackstone portfolio company and the nation’s largest owner, manager and developer of high-quality student housing communities, celebrated the grand opening of xučyun ruwway, a state-of-the-art student housing community designed to enhance the graduate student experience while honoring the East Bay Ohlone people.

As the newest and largest dedicated graduate student apartment complex at UC Berkeley, xučyun ruwway offers sleek, modern apartments in fully furnished configurations. The five-building complex triples the expansion of university-owned housing for single graduate students, providing 286 apartments, with a total of 761 beds, as well as featuring community spaces.

Each apartment is equipped with a full kitchen featuring major appliances, an in-unit washer and dryer, and boasts large windows that flood bedrooms and living areas with natural light. The community, which is targeting LEED Gold Certification, promotes environmental consciousness through energy-efficient features including fully electric building utilities, lighting and kitchen appliances.

“With xučyun ruwway, we have created a unique, affordable living experience with high-quality accommodations graduate students need for continued growth and success, while fostering a sense of connection to the land’s Indigenous heritage,” said James E. Wilhelm III, chief development officer, American Campus Communities. “The opening of this transformative residential complex sets a new benchmark for student housing, and we are excited about the positive impact it will have on UC Berkeley's graduate students and the community at large."

xučyun ruwway is the first UC Berkeley building with a name in any Indigenous language. UC Berkeley invited East Bay tribal groups with ancestral ties to the land to suggest names for the complex. The ‘ottoy initiative provided important input and guidance during this process, then-Chancellor Carol Christ approved the name xučyun ruwway.

“Providing housing tailored to the needs and interests of our growing graduate student population is essential to supporting the success of their academic and professional journeys,” said Stephen C. Sutton, Ed.D., Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UC Berkeley. “In the Chochenyo language 'xučyun' is the name of the region within the ancestral and unceded homeland of the East Bay Ohlone people that includes Albany and Berkeley, and 'ruwway' means a home or a house. This housing provides a space to live and learn, in more ways than one.”

“We are proud to invest in and support the xučyun ruwway project, which brings critical new affordable housing supply to UC Berkeley and its students,” said Rob Harper, Head of Real Estate Asset Management Americas at Blackstone. “We look forward to welcoming over 700 graduate students to this unique community.”

"xučyun ruwway will provide a space to nurture our unique graduate students community," said Lisa Garcia Bedolla, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division at UC Berkeley. "Being part of a community like this provides a vital support system that recognizes the unique challenges and experiences of graduate students. It provides a stable environment where our students can balance rigorous academics, research, and personal growth while fostering a sense of community and collaboration essential to shaping the future."

Designed for community and well-being, residents can enjoy various amenities including a fitness center, spacious lounges, meeting rooms, and over 55,000 square feet of green space with gardens, picnic areas and recreational lawns nestled across the complex. Additionally, xučyun ruwway residents benefit from excellent public transportation options, including a new transit plaza along Monroe Street directly in front of the community, providing convenient direct service to campus via AC Transit. Residents are also within walking distance of several shopping and dining amenities including grocery store, pet food store, coffee shop, walk-up ATM, and a casual restaurant, among other local businesses.

The xučyun ruwway project is a testament to American Campus Communities' ACE® (American Campus Equity) program, which enables universities to expand and enhance student housing without taking on additional debt. This nearly $200 million development represents a commitment to delivering high-quality, financially accessible housing options for graduate students, with funding structured to align with UC Berkeley’s long-term strategic goals.

For more information, please visit: https://housing.berkeley.edu/

*Pronounced HOOCH-yoon ROO-why, it is the first in the university’s history to have a Cochenyo name, chosen in collaboration with the area’s East Bay Ohlone people.
 

About American Campus Communities

American Campus Communities is the nation's largest developer, owner, and manager of premium student housing communities throughout the United States. With extensive experience in design, finance, development, construction management, and operational oversight, the company has facilitated over 115 public-private partnership (P3) transactions at 65 colleges and universities nationwide. Visit www.americancampus.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X to stay updated on the latest student housing news.