Memorial University's Battery facility graduate residence fully booked for fall

Memorial University's newest residencein the Battery facility in St. John'sis booked solidwith students as it prepares to open its doors this September, the first time the 85-room residence has been full.

The graduate student space, resembling apartment-style living with private washrooms and shared laundry and kitchen facilities, first opened in the fall of 2015.

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The university said in addition to being at capacity, there is now a waitlist for space.

"Housing is a critical need for the growing number of graduate students at Memorial," saidAimeSurprenant, dean of the university's School of Graduate Studies, in a release.MUN has about 3,500 graduate students.

One need for graduate students living in the new residence has been a shuttle bus from its downtowndoors to the university's St. John's campus, the Ocean Sciences Centre and the Marine Institute.

MUN said that shuttle bus is now piloting routes and schedules.

The residence is part of the former Battery Hotel, parts of which are still under construction for more university facilities, such as a conference centre and food and beverage areas.

It is also home to the university's Gardiner Centre, the Genesis Centre and the Harris Centre.