PIERRE – The South Dakota Board of Regents Thursday gave the go-ahead to a University of South Dakota plan to acquire a Vermillion apartment complex and make other improvement to its on-campus residential facilities.

“This plan signals a significant change in the quality and makeup of housing choices for USD students,” said Regents’ President Harvey C. Jewett. “For the first time, apartment-style housing for individual students will be offered on the Vermillion campus.”

USD plans to purchase the existing Brighton Heights apartment complex near the USD Fine Arts Building for about $2.2 million. Additional improvements, including a fire sprinkler system, furnishings, new locks and networking equipment, will add an estimated $238,800 to the cost.

The acquisition adds 104 suite-style units in, Jewett said.

In 2004-05, a $2 million expansion to build a wing on Brighton Heights would add 84 suite-style beds for upperclassmen.