Frequently Asked Questions

General

There are three steps required to live with us:

  1. Fulfill all eligibility requirements:
    1. Be enrolled as a student at Duquesne University
    2. Have a $0 student account balance
    3. For Brottier Hall and McGinley Hall:
      1. Have a junior, senior, graduate, or professional status
    4. For St. Martin Hall:
      1. Have a sophomore status
  2. Submit an application

After you submit your application, our team will be in touch with you regarding next steps.  If you wish to move forward with a lease, a $100 non-refundable application fee must be paid.

All payments will be made through the Office of Student Accounts. You must navigate to CashNet (where all other University billing is conducted), select ‘Make a Payment,’ then ‘Application Fee.’ Please notate that the payment is for the term that you wish to begin housing. You can note this by selecting ‘View details,’ then using the drop-down menu under ‘Application Fee Term’ to indicate term.

Yes; all individuals must submit their own applications and fees.

All billing is conducted through the Office of Student Accounts with Duquesne University.

For St. Martin Hall, billing is conducted in two installments – Fall and Spring – and will be reflected in your semesterly statement. For Brottier Hall and McGinley Hall billing is conducted in three installments – Fall, Spring, and Summer.

The on-campus housing award can be applied to all Lumina Communities buildings. Please inquire with the Office of Financial Aid for more information about awards and assistance.

You will receive an email with instructions about signing your lease. You will receive your lease electronically via your DUQ email address. To access the lease, open the email and click on the link to open your lease. You will need to read, initial, and sign your portion of the lease. After you sign the lease, your guarantor will receive an email asking them to complete their portion of the lease as well. All signatures will need to be completed within two weeks of original lease receipt to secure the space.

Absolutely; we would love to connect with you during a tour of the building!

We encourage you to reserve a tour time in advance.

If these tour times conflict with your schedule, please reach out to us via email at liveatluminaduq@cocm.com to arrange an alternative time to meet with us.

Ultimately, the decision to transfer their lease belongs to your roommate. Please know you will not need to move. That said, your roommate wishing to transfer their lease can mean several things for you if you live in a multi-resident space.

First, your roommate may arrange to have someone they know take over their space in the unit. While you do not have power to request a specific eligible student, you may confer with them about a potential candidate that you would like to live with who is eligible to take over the lease.

Second, your roommate may opt to transfer their lease to a prospective resident on the waitlist. If placement is successful, it is possible that you may have a new roommate that you’ve not met before. With consent from both parties, our team may put you in contact with your new roommate before they move-in.

Lastly, you may elect to ‘takeover’ your roommate’s portion of the lease. In doing so, you will accrue the cost of their lease (distributed among the remaining roommates).  A Lease Transfer Agreement must first be signed by you and your roommate(s) in order to make this happen.

Of course! On in-building fitness centers are made for your convenience. You can expect smaller crowds in our private gyms and enjoy a workout without having to walk up any campus hills (especially on leg day!)

St. Martin Hall

St. Martin Hall is home to the Second-Year Experience, which provides all sophomore students with opportunities to develop their skills in apartment-style living, academic success strategy, and career development.

The building boasts community-centric kitchens, game areas, study lounges and a 24/7 in-building fitness center alongside a more private and independent living experience. Each unit is equipped with a kitchenette, a private or semi-private bathroom and an HVAC unit.

While meal plans are not required at Lumina Communities, our partners at Duquesne Dining have developed unique dining plans specifically tailored for the residents of St. Martin Hall, making it easier than ever before to balance pre-prepared campus meals with independent cooking and meal planning!

All units in St. Martin Hall are fully furnished with an extra-long twin sized bed, storage space, student desk(s), a kitchenette, and a private or semi-private bathroom. Communal laundry is available on each floor (free of charge) and covered utilities include electric, water, trash, sewage, internet, and heating/cooling.

St. Martin Hall also hosts community game floors, kitchens, study areas and a 24/7 in-building fitness center. Unit-specific mailboxes and an Amazon HUB are available on the ground level for regular mail and package reception, respectively.

Our rates are available under the ‘St. Martin Hall’ tab on our website in the subsection titled ‘Floor Plans.’  They can also be found on the Duquesne University Room and Board rates page.

St. Martin Hall leases began on August 22, 2024 and will conclude at 12pm on May 12, 2025. The building will remain open for all breaks throughout the academic year.

Brottier Hall

Brottier Hall is home to students of junior, senior, or professional status, which provides all residents with a more independent and experienced living environment.

The building boasts a community kitchen, an outdoor area, a study lounge and a 24/7 in-building fitness center alongside more private and independent apartment styles. Each unit is equipped with a kitchen, a private or semi-private bathroom, and an HVAC unit. All units are equipped with additional furniture, including a sofa, small dining table, and ample closet space.

While meal plans are not required at Lumina Communities, our partners at Duquesne Dining have developed unique dining plans specifically tailored for the residents of Brottier Hall, making it easier than ever before to balance pre-prepared campus meals with independent cooking and meal planning!

All units in Brottier Hall are fully furnished with an extra-long twin sized bed, storage space, student desk(s), a kitchen, a sofa, small dining table, and a private or semi-private bathroom. Communal laundry is available on the Garage level (free of charge) and covered utilities include electric, water, trash, sewage, internet, and heating/cooling.

Brottier Hall also hosts community space on the Lobby and Concourse levels, including a mart for groceries, kitchen, study area and a 24/7 in-building fitness center. Unit-specific mailboxes and an Amazon HUB are available on the Lobby level for regular mail and package reception, respectively.

Between the end of the end of the 2023-24 lease term (July 16, 2024) and the beginning of the l2024-25 lease term (August 21, 2024) residents returning to Brottier Hall are permitted to remain in the building, following all policies and procedures as outlined by Duquesne University and the Lumina Resident Handbook.

Please note: Residents intending to move to a different apartment within the building for the 2024-25 leasing season must be prepared to fully move to their new unit beginning August 1-5, 2024. If residents cannot be present from August 1-5, they must complete their move out upon the lease end date and return when the new lease begins.

Our rates are available under the ‘Brottier Hall’ tab on our website in the subsection titled ‘Floor Plans.’ They can also be found on the Duquesne University Room and Board rates page.

 Brottier Hall leases began on August 21, 2024 and will conclude on at 12pm on July 21, 2025. The building will remain open for all breaks throughout the academic year, including summer.

McGinley Hall

McGinley Hall is home to students of junior, senior, or professional status, which provides all residents with a more mature, experienced living environment.

The building boasts a mart for groceries, community kitchen, an outdoor area, a study lounge and a 24/7 in-building fitness center alongside more private and independent apartment styles. Each unit is equipped with a kitchen, a private or semi-private bathroom(s), individual bedrooms, and an HVAC unit. All units are equipped with additional furniture, including a sofa, full sized bed(s), and ample closet space.

While meal plans are not required at Lumina Communities, our partners at Duquesne Dining are developing unique dining plans specifically tailored for the residents of McGinley Hall, making it easier than ever before to balance pre-prepared campus meals with independent cooking and meal planning!

All units in McGinley Hall are fully furnished with a full sized bed(s), storage space, student desk(s), a kitchen, a sofa, and a private or semi-private bathroom. Laundry will be available in each unit and covered utilities include electric, water, trash, sewage, internet, and heating/cooling.

McGinley Hall also hosts community space, including a kitchen, study area and a 24/7 in-building fitness center. Unit-specific mailboxes and an Amazon HUB will be available for regular mail and package reception, respectively.

Our rates are available under the ‘McGinley’ tab on our website in the subsection titled ‘Floor Plans.’ They can also be found on the Duquesne University Room and Board rates page.

McGinley Hall leases began on August 23, 2024 and will conclude at 12pm on July 21, 2025. The building will remain open for all breaks throughout the academic year, including summer.

During Phase I of your occupancy, you may experience some construction-related activities in the form of noise, construction dust or smells, elevator delays, or increased traffic of workers entering/exiting the building.

Your safety and comfort are our top priority. To accommodate our residents and the student lifestyle, additional measures will be in place to manage work hours, limit construction personnel access to occupied areas of the building, and secure all construction zones.

To ensure the safety and comfort of our residents, a full safety and courtesy plan will be in place, including:

  • Working hours for construction will be generally limited to 8am to 6pm, Monday through Friday. Additional work, as necessary, will be pre-approved by the University and Lumina Communities. Notice of extended work hours will be communicated to residents.
  • Elevator usage will be separated by residential and construction to prevent residential access to active construction areas. Similarly, construction personnel will have limited, supervised access to occupied areas.
  • All construction personnel will be required to sign in and out of the buildings at arrival and departure.