UofL signed an affiliate agreement with The Quad, a 27-apartment section of the Liberty Green development at Hancock Street and Muhammad Ali Boulevard and next door to the university’s Clinical and Translational Research Building. This is the second affiliate agreement at the Health Sciences Center.

The agreement basically allows a collaboration between UofL and the private management company in programming and services provided for students. Management and leasing for this property will be up to the private developers.

“When medical students live within walking distance of the School of Medicine, it creates a sense of community, contributes to neighborhood development, and reduces the demand for parking spaces and gasoline consumption. It’s the right thing to do for all concerned,” said Edward Halperin, dean of the School of Medicine.

The Quad is a living learning community modeled on the concept of those on Belknap Campus, said housing director Shannon Staten. Living learning communities connect students by major or interest and the students also have regular faculty and staff interaction.

“The medical school conceived the idea of having a living learning center for medical students,” she said. “While we are now encouraging all HSC students to participate, there is a plan to recruit a faculty member from the med school to live in the faculty unit as a resource for the students.”

A university committee will select that person.

The Quad is at 600 Marshall St. The first residents began to occupy the building in mid-July.

Other HSC student housing includes 50 apartments in the Medical Dental Apartment building behind the Kidney Dialysis building on Preston Street, and 225 units in Phoenix Place Apartments, an affiliated property at 510 S. Shelby Street Mall.