This semester will mark the first time a number of students at UConn Stamford will have a traditional dorm experience there rather than commuting from home, now that the campus has officially opened its first residence hall.

The building is something Gov. Dannel Malloy has been championing since his time as mayor of Stamford, an idea that's been talked about for almost 20 years.

Local and state leaders were at Wednesday's opening, and they all thanked the governor. The current mayor says no one has been more instrumental toward realizing the project.

The building is six stories with 116 apartment units, just two blocks south of UConn Stamford.

It will house almost 300 students each year and according to UConn officials, it will operate in the same way as the residence halls in Storrs.

The dorm is part of a public-private partnership.

UConn holds the master sublease from the building's developer and operates the apartments as student housing, making the cost more affordable for students.

Officials say most students commute since they can't afford to rent apartments in Stamford near campus. They say they believe that's been a deterrent for students interested in enrolling and they say the new dorm is already easing such concerns.

"We've already felt the impact of this residence hall almost immediately in the recruiting season that's leading up to this upcoming class," says UConn Stamford Campus Director Terrence Cheng. "The number of applications to UConn Stamford as a number one choice for students went up over 500 percent."

The first students begin moving in Aug. 26.