The Northfield City Council voted in February 2021 to approve the Ole Avenue Project, paving the way for construction of the 300-bed residence hall and 14 townhouses. Site clearing has begun, with work on the townhouse units set to begin in June.

Through March 8, St. Olaf Avenue will be closed at the intersection of St. Olaf Avenue, Norway Valley Drive and Founders Drive, at the bottom of the hill near Boe House. The closure is necessary to facilitate water main and sewer pipe work. Pedestrian sidewalk access will continue along St. Olaf Avenue.

Signage at the intersection of St. Olaf Avenue and Lincoln Street alerts motorists of the closure.

St. Olaf has been facing a housing shortage for more than three decades, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this problem.

Altogether, the project represents the first new student living project in nearly two decades. It will help the college address longstanding overcrowding and rising maintenance costs related to campus honor houses, while also investing in renovations of existing on-campus housing.

The project will provide a more gender inclusive approach to housing students and better connect the college to the Northfield community.

The residence hall and townhomes are anticipated to open in Fall 2022.