CSI Interim President Dr. William J. Fritz cuts the ribbon to the model unit at Dolphin Cove.

College of Staten Island English major Dakota Dawkins cut the ribbon on the College’s new residential village, with the pride of winning the naming competition for the College’s first new construction project since the opening of the Willowbrook campus in 1993.

Dawkins, a first-year transfer student from SUNY, submitted the first-place entry “Dolphin Cove” in the College’s naming competition and not only earned herself a place in CSI history but a $750 gift certificate to the Staten Island Mall as well.

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Dawkins was joined at the construction site by officials from the College and American Campus Communities to inaugurate the new name and announce tours of the four-bedroom model, located in Dolphin Cove North. Student apartments are available in a variety of floor plans; they are fully furnished, and include cable and Internet.

Dolphin Cove is easily accessible from the Campus Center, Sports and Recreation Center, and academic buildings. Students attending any institution within The City University of New York system are eligible to reside at Dolphin Cove. In addition to offering a state-of-the-art fitness center, study lounges, and social spaces, residents enjoy CSI’s free round-trip shuttle service to the St. George Ferry Terminal for one-stop access to the Ferry into Manhattan.

Dolphin Cove is CSI’s first residential complex in its history. In its initial phase of construction, due to open for occupancy in August 2013, two buildings will house 454 students in 133 fully furnished apartments. The four- and five-story buildings will feature single- and double-occupancy units, eight Resident Assistant units, and two professional staff residents. All private and semi-private units for students will feature kitchens with a four-burner range top, oven, refrigerator, and garbage disposal, as well as dedicated bathrooms. A third building is slated for construction in the immediate future. All buildings are designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification.

Anthony Diangelo was second-place winner in the student housing naming competition with the name “Dolphin Hall” and Zach Crespi placed third with the name “Dolphin Court”.

“Residence halls are an important component of the College’s Master Plan, and are part of our sustainable and responsible patterns of development on campus,” commented Dr. William J. Fritz, Interim President at CSI. He added that “Dolphin Cove will be transformational for the College, and I look forward to the many new opportunities the residence halls will provide for enhancing the student experience through our award-winning athletics teams, cultural events, faculty engagement, and proximity to New York City.”

Dolphin Cove is located on the CSI campus at 2800 Victory Boulevard in the Willowbrook section of Staten Island. Conveniently located immediately off the Staten Island Expressway with College shuttle buses and MTA buses minutes away, tours of the model unit are offered five days a week by appointment only. Visit csistudenthousing.com or call the licensing office at 718.982.3019 for more information and to make an appointment.