roosevelt university

roosevelt university was founded in 1945 by an activist president and faculty committed to social justice.  it was originally named for thomas jefferson, but franklin delano roosevelt died two weeks after its founding, and the school was promptly renamed in his honor.  (years later, it was rededicated to the memory of both franklin and eleanor roosevelt.)  the campus extends to four buildings in the heart of the chicago loop, although construction of an architecturally stunning new tower is underway, with delivery slated for 2012.  the university holds most of its classes in the historic auditorium building (which it purchased for a dollar in 1947), although some classes are taught at the gage building, another historic edifice, at 18 south michigan avenue.  student residences are available at both the university center of chicago, located at the corner of state and congress, and the pittsfield building, situated at the intersection of washington and wabash.  when the new, 32-story glass tower (adjacent to the auditorium building) is complete, it will host classrooms, laboratories, administrative offices, a dining center, and additional student housing, among many other things.  upon its opening, it will be the second-tallest educational building in the country.

because a half dozen other universities have established a presence on the south side of the loop, roosevelt university is situated among the nation's largest concentration of college students.  the neighborhood has lately been dubbed the "south loop education corridor."

seeing as the loop is chicago's central business district, the neighborhood around roosevelt university is filthy rich with amenities.  downtown city dwellers enjoy plentiful grocery, restaurant, and convenience store options, over and above their close proximity to the national retailers and department stores that thrive along state street.  loop residents also live near grant park, lake michigan, soldier field, museum campus, millennium park, the magnificent mile, and navy pier.  in recent years, many high-rise condominium and apartment buildings were developed, converted, or adapted for reuse in the loop, and apartments range from the moderately-priced to the ultra-luxurious.  as an added benefit, every line of the el makes multiple stops in the loop, so access to anything else in chicago is a cinch.

they say that real estate is all about location, location, location.  for location, the loop is pretty darn tough to beat.