Fourth Avenue Townhomes add housing variety at Dordt University

Dordt University recently completed construction of the Fourth Avenue Townhomes, which are designed to house upperclassmen. The project, begun in November 2023, was completed in time for students to move in at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. The townhomes provide modern features and a unique experience for residents.

“We have partnered with Vision Builders with a goal of creating housing that blends nicely into the character of the town,” says Fred Verwoerd, vice president of university operations. “I like the idea of having a variety of housing options on campus for different students. This housing option will provide students with a nice hybrid of on-campus living while also being closer to the greater Sioux Center community.”

The townhomes are designed in two sizes. Most are composed of a living room, kitchen, and restroom on the lower level, with two bathrooms and two bedrooms on the second story. The bedrooms comfortably sleep up to seven people. A handful of units designed on a smaller scale hold three people but offer the same amenities of kitchen and living room. Between in the center of the building, visitors will find a patio area called the Deck.

The Deck is a favorite spot for Braelynn Kamstra, a senior studying Health and Human Performance (HHP) who lives in the townhomes. “I've done homework up there, and me and my roommates do a Bible study in the mornings, which is so nice,” she says. Tables dot the raised area, lit by Edison light bulbs hanging on crisscrossed wires running overhead. Access to this area is reserved for Fourth Avenue Townhome residents.

Kamstra appreciates the split-level design, which allows for a private and restful environment. Upstairs, two spacious bedrooms sandwich two bathrooms, while downstairs a large kitchen island divides two living rooms. The open floor plan gives residents flexibility in how they arrange their space.

Kamstra especially enjoys the extra space the townhomes provide. In fact, the first thing she noticed on move-in day was how large and spacious the new apartment was. High ceilings create a modern, clean atmosphere and enormous windows admit a stream of western light.

Student leaders also have extensive space to entertain guests. Kamstra, a manager for the cross-country team, has hosted game nights and brunches in her living room. Truman Clark, a senior theology major, says he has held small group meetings on the Deck as well.

The townhomes uniquely blend campus life with community. Ellie Janda, an engineering major in her third year at Dordt, lives with one roommate in a smaller unit. Though her apartment has only one bedroom, bathroom, living room, and kitchen, Janda loves the sense of community.

“You know your neighbors. We live right on Fourth Avenue, so it feels like you are part of Sioux Center.” Janda and her roommate, who are both on the cross-country team, enjoy having easy access to run through Sioux Center in the mornings.

As construction concluded, some students wondered whether the distance from other apartments would present a challenge. However, many seniors have found that living on Fourth Avenue creates an intermediary step between life as college students and as graduates. The townhomes, situated three minutes from the Campus Center, provide students with a glimpse of what life after college might look like—right down to having a front door that opens onto a small-town street instead of a university sidewalk. The townhomes present a unique living experience for Dordt students.

About Dordt University

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt is a comprehensive university named to the best college lists by the Wall Street Journal, Times Higher Education, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review.