New Apartments, Bought from Former College, Listed on 2026-2027 Housing Application
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By Lucienne Burns | February 16, 2026
Last November, the University at Albany announced its intent to purchase the former Centennial Hall on the old College of Saint Rose campus. Just three months later, a new option was presented for UAlbany students to choose on the 2026-2027 Housing Application form: The Great Dane Apartments.
Unlike other current University Apartments offerings, the Great Dane Apartments provide a unique option for undergraduate students: apartment-style living and campus amenities not located on the university’s uptown campus. The Great Dane Apartments are located at 930 Madison Avenue, in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood, in very close proximity to UAlbany’s downtown campus.
The Housing Application opened on Feb. 2, where students logged into their housing portal to sign up for the living area they would like to apply for. The complex, which can house approximately 200 students across its three floors, was featured on the signup with other University Apartments, made up of Empire Commons, Liberty Terrace and Freedom Apartments — and now the Great Dane Apartments as well.
According to Residential Life, the new apartments are complete with amenities and accessible transportation.
“Great Dane Apartments will have convenient transportation via the adjacent CDTA bus stop and will enjoy amenities including air conditioning, full kitchens, elevator access and laundry on each floor,” said Brittany Tomlin, the associate director of Residential Life, in a statement to the ASP.
According to Residential Life, students that are eligible to select Great Dane Apartments on their application can self-select the option once their designated housing selection date and time begins. The housing selection will start on Feb. 17 and end on March 6.
According to Residential Life, University Apartments, made up of three complexes — Empire, Liberty, and Freedom — already account for approximately 30% of on-campus housing.
On-campus housing at UAlbany has statistically seen strong demand, with apartment-style options proving to be of high interest among students.
“In Fall 2024 more than half of UAlbany’s undergraduates lived in campus housing, and demand has exceeded 100% capacity for the past two years,” said Amy Geduldig, the director of public information at UAlbany. “There is a high level of interest for apartment-style living on campus. For reference, Empire Commons is in high-demand and always at capacity.”
According to Residential Life, over 7,000 students live in on-campus housing at the start of each academic year.
The Great Dane Apartments are eligible to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students– making for an expectedly competitive selection, according to Residential Life.
“With over 200 beds and strong interest based on housing applications so far, we anticipate it may fill quickly,” said Tomlin. “Students should select as early as they or their requested apartmentmates are eligible to select.”
While the now Great Dane Apartments are not located on UAlbany's main campus, they were previously located directly on the College of Saint Rose’s campus. Constructed in 2012, the apartments housed years of students prior to the college’s closure in 2024.
Jenna Ellison, a senior at SUNY Cortland who transferred from Saint Rose, used to live in Centennial Hall, and has fond memories of her residence there.
“My time in Centennial Hall was short and bittersweet,” Ellison said. “I was in my sophomore year when I lived there, and I made the most amazing memories.”
Abagail Dowen, a junior adolescent education and English major at UAlbany, lived in Centennial Hall at the former college of Saint Rose prior to its closure.
“I loved living in Centennial, it was the perfect ‘pre-apartment’ living, getting the experience of the freedom of taking care of your own apartment while still having the safety of campus living to support you,” Dowen said. “I hope with it now being owned by UAlbany, the building can be taken care of and students in future classes will get to share that same experience of community within the building.”
Students who previously lived in the apartment complex all spoke fondly of the memories made there, and wish its future to reflect their experiences there.
“As devastating as the closure of Saint Rose was for me, I am so glad that the students of UAlbany will be able to call this place home,” Ellison said. “I hope everyone who lives there feels the love that the Saint Rose students put into that building.”
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