NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Merrimack College and Greystar will celebrate the official opening of two new student residence halls Tuesday, Sept. 1, marking a major expansion of on-campus housing and another step in the transformation of the college’s North Andover campus.
The opening ceremony for Essex Hall and Shawsheen Hall will take place at 5 p.m. at Merrimack College. The event will bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, project partners and other members of the Merrimack community to celebrate the new residential facilities.
The development adds 540 beds to Merrimack’s campus housing inventory at the intersection of Route 114 and Andover Street. The project represents the college’s largest increase in on-campus housing since 2015 and is part of its ongoing investment in the student experience and campus community.
The residence halls were developed through a public-private partnership (P3) between Merrimack College and Greystar. Greystar developed the facilities and will manage the residence halls. The company brings nearly six decades of experience in student housing and currently manages approximately 15,000 campus-owned student housing beds nationwide.
The new facilities are expected to provide students with additional residential options while strengthening the connection between campus life and the surrounding North Andover community.
Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., president of Merrimack College, and Ryan Souls, managing director at Greystar, are expected to participate in the opening celebration.
The event comes as Merrimack continues to invest in its campus infrastructure and student experience. The addition of Essex and Shawsheen halls provides substantial new housing capacity while contributing to the continued evolution of the college’s campus.
The ceremony will be held inside Essex Hall because of the forecasted weather.
Event Details
- What: Opening of Merrimack College’s Essex and Shawsheen Residence Halls
- When: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at 5 p.m.
- Where: Essex Hall and Shawsheen Hall, Merrimack College, North Andover, Mass.
- Participants: Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D., president of Merrimack College; Ryan Souls, managing director at Greystar
- Project: 540-bed student housing development through a public-private partnership
The opening represents a significant milestone for Merrimack College and Greystar as the college expands its residential capacity and continues to invest in the campus experience for its students.
