BOWLING GREEN, Ky. 鈥� Western Kentucky University has reached financial close on a $350 million public-private partnership aimed at transforming its campus housing portfolio, marking the largest residential investment in the university鈥檚 history.听

The initiative, known as Elevate WKU, is a long-term partnership between WKU, Gilbane Development, the Collegiate Housing听Foundation听and other project partners. University officials say the project will modernize aging residence halls, improve student living听environments听and support future enrollment and retention goals. Financial close follows approvals by the WKU Board of Regents on April 24 and the Kentucky Capital Projects and Bond Oversight Committee on April 27.听

The partnership听utilizes听a 50-year ground lease structure that allows the university to听leverage听private-sector financing and development听expertise听while听maintaining听oversight of the听student听residential experience.听Under the arrangement, WKU will enter into a ground lease with the Collegiate Housing Foundation, a nonprofit organization that will serve as the owner and borrower for the project.听The organization鈥檚 nonprofit status allows the project to qualify for tax-exempt financing, reducing borrowing costs.听

Approximately $350 million in tax-exempt and taxable revenue bonds will fund the first phase of the initiative. According to WKU, the university will not be responsible for debt service on the bonds. Instead, revenue generated through student housing fees will be used to repay project debt. Any surplus revenue听remaining听after debt obligations and maintenance reserves are met will be returned to the university.听

The first phase includes听acquiring听the university鈥檚 existing housing facilities from the Student Life Foundation and replacing aging housing infrastructure with new residential communities. Plans call for the demolition of Douglas-Keen and Hugh-Poland halls, as well as a nearby dining facility, to make way for a new residence hall and dining complex.听

The new development will provide approximately 1,000 beds and is scheduled to break ground in fall 2026, with completion听anticipated听for fall 2028. In addition to new construction, improvements are planned for existing housing facilities across campus.听

The Student Life Foundation will separately oversee the demolition of Hilltopper Hall, which university officials determined is beyond repair. Normal Hall and Regents Hall are currently undergoing repairs and will eventually be transferred to the Collegiate Housing Foundation once renovations are complete.听

Project leaders said the broader initiative will modernize WKU鈥檚 residential offerings over time, including the gradual replacement of traditional community-bathroom residence halls with suite-style accommodations. Planned amenities include collaborative study lounges, community gathering spaces, living-learning听communities听and a central dining facility intended to support student engagement.听

University President Timothy C. Caboni described the project as a significant investment in the student experience. In statements released by both the university and project partners, Caboni said the initiative will provide modern housing while听maintaining听affordability for students.听

Under the partnership structure, WKU will听retain听authority over residential life programming and student experience decisions through a shared governance model. Inwood Management will oversee day-to-day operations and maintenance of the housing portfolio while working alongside the university鈥檚 Residence Life team.听

University officials cited research听indicating听that students living in intentional, on-campus residential environments often experience stronger academic outcomes and higher retention rates. They said the Elevate WKU initiative is intended to ensure campus infrastructure supports student success while addressing long-term housing needs.听

The project is expected to serve as the foundation for a broader, multi-phase effort to modernize campus housing and residential life at WKU in the coming decades.

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By Paul Choquette III

It is a difficult time to run an American college or university. Challenges lurk around every corner: there鈥檚 policy uncertainty in Washington, with 听financial impacts,听changes to U.S. demographics could cause changes to enrollment trends鈥搉ot to mention the听听associated with a degree.听

This broader environment makes it far more challenging for administrators to听win what is rapidly becoming a fierce competition for student attention and enrollment as they听听than ever before.听Schools听with听modern, updated听and听amenitized听physical infrastructure听鈥斕齠acilities and housing alike听鈥斕齛re best equipped to听win this competition and听manage the current听and forthcoming听challenges facing the sector.听

Given the tough financial climate, that might seem like bad news, but that misses a truly exciting trend in the industry: schools can engage in public-private partnerships (P3) with听integrated, experienced firms to reduce costs, deliver projects at speed and scale, and听bring an adaptable model to position听themselves for success.听听

The Student Housing Supply Crisis

Let鈥檚 start by looking at student housing.听There听is an extreme mismatch between supply and demand听on America鈥檚 campuses.听听The听top 175 American universities had听听of students on campus in 2025. The situation is not much听better off-campus, with听the overwhelming majority of听privately-owned, purpose-built student housing near campuses听.听

This drives prices up even as students expect听innovative amenities on听campus.听

Gone are the days of the traditional dorm, with preferring that arrangement. Instead, students increasingly want single rooms or apartment-style living, coupled with social programming to foster a meaningful sense of connection. This no longer applies to just undergraduates or underclassmen: upper-division students also want to live on campus.听

Demographic Shifts and Rising Competition

It鈥檚 also worth considering the upcoming demographic changes coming to the sector, with the number of American high school 听and projected to decline for the next 16 years.听听

This tells us that there could be some demand relief to a听housing submarket with no current vacancy. It also听reinforces听that institutions will now find themselves subjected to far more competition for student attention听and dollars.听

The P3 Model as a Strategic Solution

That鈥檚 where the P3 model comes in. This is the work done each day at Gilbane, which helped colleges and universities renovate or create 16,000 modern student beds last year alone, ranking us as a 听and听the听 in the nation.听

The primary issue to solve is, as usual, financial. But there is also urgency. These projects must be delivered against academic schedules and conducted in a rapidly evolving landscape for students and administrators.听

That鈥檚 why Gilbane created a design-build-finance-operate-maintain model: it allows the company to accelerate schedules, support long-term accountability and save schools money. Under this model, Gilbane manages the entire construction and development process from start to finish. It also handles the long-term operation of the facilities themselves 鈥� creating one point of accountability.听

The model works.听听

Case Study: Palm Beach Atlantic University

Consider Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBAU), where Gilbane is 听with a new, 25-story mixed-use residence hall. The partnership is creating 990 new student beds, and generating new dining, health,听recreation听and parking facilities.听听

The best part of this endeavor, however, is听that it听 while correcting outdated master leasing agreements that were preventing PBAU from retaining housing, dining and parking revenue. Gilbane broke ground several months ago and will be finished ahead of the 2027-28 academic year.听

Expanding Beyond Housing

The Gilbane P3 model brings expanded solutions to existing educational clients and helps those higher institutions deliver more than housing. The power of this approach can help universities with projects that may require complex phasing, long-term operating plans and coordination with multiple stakeholders.听

At the University of South Carolina (USC), for example, the P3 model is supporting a new home for the School of Medicine on its emerging Health Sciences Campus. Through this vertically-integrated approach, Gilbane brought predictability to USC and state-of-the-art classrooms, research labs, medical simulation spaces, a health-science library and event spaces, creating a new a permanent downtown health sciences campus for the University.听

A Path Forward for Colleges and Universities

College 鈥� and the built environment that shapes it 鈥� is changing quickly, and so are student (and parent) expectations. But as each of these transformational developments demonstrates, solutions to these complex problems do exist. Better yet, those solutions can be executed without additional strain on already-strapped financials. 听

Paul Choquette III, a fifth-generation member of the Gilbane family, serves as Regional President for Gilbane Building and leads the firm鈥檚 national Public-Private Partnership (P3) strategy.

Read the full article in the Higher Education Issue of 糖心少女.

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By Henry Weinberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, and Laura Rushfeldt, AIA, LEED AP

Humans have an innate desire to connect with nature, yet we spend听nearly 90 percent听of our lives indoors. In academic settings, where students learn,听live听and socialize, this disconnect can have real consequences for focus, mental听health听and well-being. Mass timber construction offers a powerful way to bring the warmth,听texture听and psychological benefits of nature indoors, while also advancing sustainability goals and, in many cases, matching or outperforming traditional steel construction on cost.听听

A growing body of research shows that biophilic design, the integration of natural elements, particularly wood, into the built environment can improve cognitive performance, creativity and mood while reducing stress and fatigue. Spaces that incorporate visible wood elements are consistently perceived as warmer and more welcoming, fostering social interaction and a stronger sense of belonging. For higher education institutions focused on student wellness and community-building, these qualities are increasingly viewed as essential.听

CBT Architects is applying these principles at听Cornell University鈥檚 Maplewood Graduate Housing Phase II, a new off-campus residential community designed to house 800 graduate students. At the center of the project is a freestanding听Community Center, referred to as the Clubhouse, conceived as the social and programmatic 鈥渉eart鈥� of the development. Entirely constructed from mass timber, the pavilion-style building听demonstrates听how biophilia, sustainability and cost responsibility can align.听

The 11,000-square-foot, single-story Clubhouse will听consolidate听wellness and community programs into a single central location, becoming a highly visible show point and social hub for leisure and connection.听听A floor-to-ceiling window wall wraps the public areas and reinforces the project鈥檚 strong indoor-outdoor connections by offering unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape and flooding the interior with daylight.听Adjacent to听the building, a generous spill-out terrace supports听indoor-outdoor听dining,听events听and daily relaxation鈥攆urther strengthening the connection between architecture and nature.听

The Biophilic Advantage of Mass Timber听

Utilizing approximately听84 cubic meters听of mass timber, including glue-laminated (glu-lam) columns and beams and cross-laminated timber (CLT) ceiling panels, the fully exposed structural elements allow occupants to experience the material directly, visually,听spatially听and emotionally.听

This exposure is key to maximizing biophilic听benefit. Unlike steel, which typically requires layers of fireproofing and finish materials, mass timber can remain visible, allowing its natural grain,听color听and texture to define the interior character. The result is a simpler, thinner assembly made up of fewer materials, reducing embodied carbon while enhancing aesthetic impact.听

By centralizing both community programming and mass timber construction into the Clubhouse, the design听consolidates听benefits for all residents. Rather than spreading timber features thinly across multiple buildings, the project achieves maximum impact with a focused investment, creating a shared social hub where biophilic design is experienced daily.听

Rethinking the Cost Conversation听

One of the most persistent misconceptions about mass timber is cost. While early projects carried premiums tied to perceived risk and uncertainty around emerging building systems, as well as limited supply, market conditions have shifted rapidly. As more manufacturers come online and design teams gain experience, mass timber is increasingly achieving cost听parity with, and in some cases outperforming, traditional steel construction.听

At Maplewood, the design and construction team conducted side-by-side cost analyses of steel and mass timber structural systems at multiple design milestones. The results consistently showed comparable material and construction costs. Several factors influenced this听outcome-.听听

First, the Clubhouse鈥檚 modest scale made it less efficient for steel fabrication shops, while mass timber providers, particularly those听seeking听to expand in the Northeast, were eager to deliver a highly visible, proven project. Competitive bidding at one pricing milestone showed mass timber coming in lower than steel.听

Second,听designing for听mass timber from day one allowed the team to听optimize听the building around material efficiencies. As a single-story, Type V structure with a听relatively small听footprint, the building does not听require听a fire-rated ceiling assembly. This enabled the use of 3-ply CLT panels instead of thicker 5- or 7-ply assemblies, reducing material volume and cost.听

Third, efficient structural spans further streamlined construction. Glu-lam elements are spaced at 15 feet on center, allowing simple one-way spanning without the need for deeper primary framing elements such as girders. This structural clarity simplified mechanical distribution, reduced coordination complexity, and supported faster installation鈥攄elivering schedule efficiencies alongside cost control.听

Finally, pricing stability played a role. Steel costs are historically volatile, influenced by global demand,听tariffs听and energy prices. Mass timber pricing, by comparison, has tended to be steadier, offering owners greater predictability during design and procurement.听

Henry Weinberg, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, is an Associate Principal at CBT Architects.

Laura Rushfeldt, AIA, LEED AP, is an Associate Principal at CBT Architects.

Read more and see additional project images in the 2026 Higher Education issue of 糖心少女.

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EL PASO, Texas 鈥� Students at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) will soon live in a state-of-the-art residence hall equipped with a fitness center and brand-new dining facility near the center of campus. University officials recently broke ground on a new $102 million complex, named Miner Crossing, that will provide a much-needed expansion of UTEP鈥檚 on-campus housing.听

鈥淭his will be a traditional freshman dorm with an integrated dining hall at a reasonable price for our students and their families,鈥� said UTEP President Heather Wilson in a statement. 鈥淲ith more and more students applying to UTEP from beyond West Texas, we need to expand our on-campus housing.鈥�听

The new 155,500-square-foot facility will add approximately 507 new beds in single and double occupancy rooms. The five-story residence hall will be听located听on the north side of the track at Kidd Field.听

The complex includes a new 22,000-square-foot dining room with seating for 400 guests, serving more than 1,400 meals per day. It will be equipped with a full kitchen, bakery, allergen-free zone, pizza听oven听and office spaces for staff. Students will have the听option听to choose from 11 food stations, including a salad bar, deli, grill, pizza听station听and ice cream bar.听

Study rooms and open study nooks will be听located听throughout the building, as well as a first-floor amenity space with a gaming area, living room,听a multi-purpose space and a mailroom. A 1,350-square-foot fitness center will include a mixture of cardio equipment and free weights.听

The exterior of the building will reflect UTEP鈥檚 distinctive Bhutanese architectural style, complemented by native Chihuahuan desert plant landscaping designed by Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. The firm is also behind the decorative courtyard and breezeway that will sit on the south side of the building, connecting the housing facility to Kidd Field.听

The building was designed by Ayers Saint Gross and is being built by Sundt Construction.听听

鈥淭his new housing option will allow students to be fully integrated with campus life,鈥� said Catie McCorry-Andalis, Ed.D., Vice President of Student Affairs, in a statement. 鈥淪tudents can easily access the track for exercise; the Union for additional dining options; and classes.鈥�听

Construction will take about two听years听and the dorm will be complete and available for students in the Fall 2028 semester. UTEP has 1,000 beds on campus currently and has had a waiting list for housing for the last four years.听

The project team also includes Project Control and PC Sports听and Mijares Mora Architects Inc.听

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By Sarah Clow

As student housing is a growing part of the higher education design and construction conversation,听糖心少女 attended the Bisnow San Diego Student Housing & Higher Education Conference on May 13. The event brought together developers, university administrators, architects, and construction leaders, with a focus on balancing growth with affordability and changing听needs and听expecations听regarding听student experience. Across the board,听panelists听agreed that听institutions are rethinking听the traditional student housing model, and for many students next-generation housing options are听non-negotiable.听

Building For All 鈥� Balancing Housing Growth with Affordability听

There is a growing听student housing crisis in San Diego, where most universities can only guarantee housing for first- and second-year students. Panelists听were听candid about the structural barriers to building more attainable housing 鈥� and financing topped the list. When asked to听identify听the biggest hurdle 鈥� financing, land,听or approvals 鈥斕齨early every听panelist听pointed to听financing but also pointed听to strategies听for bringing costs down. Chief among them: increasing density.听听

Adding more beds to existing builds helps spread construction costs across more units, improving the economics of a project without sacrificing quality. Delivery methods also came up as a key lever, with progressive design-build highlighted as an effective tool for faster, more cost-efficient delivery.听

Panelists听noted a听distinct听shift in how institutions are thinking about the relationship between unit size and community space. Square footage per student is shrinking, while investment in recreation and amenity spaces is growing 鈥� a deliberate strategy to push students toward shared community while also keeping per-bed costs down. When asked听about must-have听amenities for higher education projects, panelists pointed to outdoor programmatic space and collaborative, community-focused interiors as essential.听

Speakers included:听Hemlata Jhaveri, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor at UC San Diego; Bob Schulz, University Architect and Associate VP of Real Estate at SDSU; Abbie Hawkins, VP of Development at The Michaels Organization; Lindsey Sielaff, Operations Manager at Hensel Phelps; Richard King, Principal at Gensler; and Lisa Norombaba, Executive Director of Wesley House.听

Panel 2: From Dorms to Destination 鈥� Redefining the Student Living Experience

Today鈥檚 students听value听quality over quantity, and the听student housing听industry is responding.听

The ongoing听shift toward wellness-focused design听is听bringing spas, fitness centers, relaxation spaces, and mental health-supportive environments听into student housing. Interestingly,听these offerings听are no longer听considered听amenities 鈥斕齮hey鈥檙e听expectations. Panelists noted that younger students are willing to trade square footage for higher-quality finishes and thoughtful design, a trend that is reshaping unit mix strategies toward smaller one- and two-bedroom configurations.听

Landscape and outdoor space took center stage, particularly in the Southern California context. Panelists from McCullough Landscape Architecture emphasized the growing importance of connection to nature, flexible outdoor听programming听and visibility 鈥� both for community building and for safety. Transparency and sightlines in outdoor spaces were called out as important design tools for creating environments where students feel secure.听

However, the panel pushed back on trend-chasing in amenity design. For example,听rather than听including a听golf simulator听鈥斕齛 shiny听amenity that听doesn鈥檛听hold long-term value听鈥斕齪anelists听emphasized听creating genuine 鈥渢hird spaces鈥� for socialization: areas that听aren鈥檛听over-programmed, allowing students to use them organically.听

Walkability and bike-ability also听emerged听as a priority, with several panelists听advocating for听pedestrian-focused campus design as a means of supporting both student health and affordability by reducing transportation costs.听

The panel also highlighted an interesting tension in the market: while many developers are moving toward smaller bed counts and higher-end amenities to attract students willing to pay a premium, San Diego Community College District is taking a different approach 鈥� building higher-density housing with fewer amenities to maximize access for lower-income students. Both strategies reflect the breadth of need in the market.听

On the technology and security front, panelists pointed to smart package and food delivery lockers as an increasingly expected feature 鈥� a practical response to the realities of how students live today.听

Finally, the Southern California advantage was hard to ignore. The indoor-outdoor lifestyle is a genuine differentiator in design, and solar energy adoption is accelerating. Core Spaces highlighted a project near UCSD where rooftop and parking structure solar arrays are expected to cover听the majority of听the building鈥檚 energy costs 鈥� a compelling case for sustainability as both a听values听play and a financial one.听

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By Ben Kasdan听

Student housing design leads the industry in wellness and sustainable design strategies because the current generation of college students, primarily members of Gen Z, expect their communities to address those issues. This cohort exhibits more self-awareness of their own mental and physical wellness, expresses less stigma about mental illness and has demonstrated more interest in the greater good at a younger age than previous generations. As the current generation of student residents graduate and enter the workforce in the next few years, they will expect market rate housing to do a better job of addressing wellness and sustainability too.听

Encouragingly, the University of Michigan鈥檚 latest Annual Healthy Minds Study from 2023-2024, which surveyed 100,000+ college students from 200+ universities across the country, reports positive trends in mental health outcomes for American students:听 鈥�..there are decreases in symptoms of anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide, and increases in receiving mental health care and support.” Specifically, they found a decrease in severe depressive symptoms from 23% in 2022 and 20% in 2023 to 19% in 2024, more students (61%) are using mental health therapy or counseling compared to 59% in 2023, and more students reported taking psychiatric medication (31% in 2024 vs. 29% in 2022 and 2023). This and other studies do show an increase in the diagnosis of mental illness among college students, though this may be attributable to greater awareness and increased diagnoses, not increased prevalence.听

Remember that the Gen Z students entering college now were in middle and high school during the height of the pandemic, and they bring that visceral experience of isolation and missing milestones with them. The potential impact of health-related events deeply affected their collective perspective on the world and their individual roles within it. To them, health and wellness is associated with personal safety and their ability to thrive, so they bring that expectation to their first experience living away from home. These factors and preferences lead designers to make student housing communities that effectively employ wellness and sustainable strategies to resonate with the current generation of student residents.听

The KTGY Research and Development Studio created 鈥淭hrive Hall,鈥� a student housing concept for mental health and wellness that proposes seven evidence-based design objectives to improve and support the mental health of student residents: creating community 鈥減ods鈥� of 50 or fewer people, reinforcing community using current co-housing principles, connection to nature in both natural light and outdoor spaces, intentional study spaces separate from sleeping rooms, prioritizing quality rest, encouraging an active lifestyle, and providing easy access to mental health support. Building on the research foundation of Thrive Hall, KTGY designs student housing communities, like The 87 near the University of Notre Dame and Pique near UC Berkeley, which employ these design principles.听

The 87 in South Bend, Ind. creates community pods by subdividing the site into multiple buildings and a variety of types of units, both stacked-flats and multi-story units. The visual and physical connection to nature is emphasized by a series of amenity courtyards linking the buildings and creating a hierarchy and mix of outdoor open spaces. A large central study space located adjacent to the other main amenity spaces (leasing, lounge and fitness areas) and satellite study spaces are dispersed throughout the other buildings, as well. The 87 opened in the fall of 2024 and the initial reviews indicate early successes in building a welcoming sense of community, with positive comments about the multiple study rooms, common amenity spaces and resident services programming.听

Pique in Berkeley, Calif., leans into co-living by proposing macro-units that can house up to 14 students 鈥� a strategy to reinforce a sense of community while also increasing housing attainability by creating a unique path to non-subsidized affordability in an extremely high-cost housing market. Pique only parks bicycles on-site, which reinforces its aggressive sustainability goals while also encouraging physical activity and enhancing the walkability of its infill urban context.听

The lack of parking for automobiles at Pique also responds to Gen Z鈥檚 decreased interest in private car ownership as both a cost-saving strategy and, perhaps more altruistically, to reduce their personal carbon footprint and preferring public transportation, cycling and ridesharing over solo-driving. McKinsey published a report in 2022, citing data from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, that noted the stark decrease in the percentage of teenage drivers: in 1997, 43% of 16-year-olds and 62% of 17-year-olds (aka the 鈥渆lder Millennials鈥�) had driver licenses; but by 2020, only 25% of 16-year-olds and 45% of 17-year-olds had drivers licenses.听

Student housing design is often on the forefront of trends, and it represents the next era of housing designed to support human wellness and sustainability. Today鈥檚 student residents are tomorrow鈥檚 market-rate apartment dwellers. These current student residents鈥� values are successfully influencing the design and programming of their communities at universities across the country and will continue to do so as they emerge into the greater housing market in the next several years.听

Ben Kasdan is a Principal with national architecture and design firm KTGY.听

听

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By Denzil D鈥橲a and Jack Carter

Across California, universities are racing to meet the evolving demands of today鈥檚 students 鈥� none more urgent than the need for on-campus housing. Once considered “commuter colleges”, many public institutions are now experiencing a seismic shift as more students seek a residential university experience. This change is reshaping campus master plans and challenging school leaders to rethink how student housing is delivered 鈥� faster, smarter and with less disruption.

For example, California鈥檚 CSU (California State University) and UC (University of California) systems are facing a mounting student housing crisis fueled by rising enrollment, limited on-campus housing, and unaffordable rental markets surrounding many campuses. Combined, these pressures have left tens of thousands of students without stable housing options. UC campuses report a shortfall of more than 20,000 beds, while CSU estimates its gap to be over 14,000. This has left many students on lengthy waitlists, commuting extreme distances, or facing housing insecurity that directly impacts their ability to succeed.

Responding to the Housing Crisis with Innovation

Enter Progressive Design-Build (PDB), a collaborative, solutions-forward delivery method that鈥檚 helping universities break ground faster and open doors sooner, all while maintaining quality and cost control. This design-build model has reshaped what鈥檚 possible, allowing companies like McCarthy, a long-standing partner in California鈥檚 higher education landscape, to deliver more than 5,000 student beds in the last four years.

From Concept to Completion in Record Time

At San Francisco State University (SFSU), the clock was ticking. The campus urgently needed student housing to support its growing population and improve the student experience. Thanks to the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery method, project stakeholders were engaged from the very first design workshop through to ribbon-cutting 鈥� enabling the construction and delivery of 700 beds in just 17 months. That pace makes it the fastest-delivered housing project in the California State University (CSU) system to date.

Early alignment with the university, designers 鈥� EHDD Architecture, and trade partners allowed the team to evaluate options, control costs and iterate in real time 鈥� rather than waiting for full design completion before pricing and procurement. This approach built deep trust between the university and the design-build team, a critical element for making decisions at speed.

Speed was supported not just by process, but by purpose. The team prioritized minimizing disruption to ongoing campus life, particularly since construction occurred during active school sessions. Deliveries and site activities were coordinated around academic calendars to reduce noise, traffic and student impact 鈥� especially during finals and move-in weeks.

Student-centered thinking also influenced material selection and scheduling. The design and preconstruction teams worked closely with SFSU to choose materials that supported the campus vision while navigating the constraints of an occupied site. 鈥淭hrough the early partnership with SFSU, we were able to release long lead items 鈥� like electrical equipment 鈥� early to ensure timely delivery,鈥� shared McCarthy Building Companies Senior Project Engineer Lana Jarnutowski.

Operations personnel were brought in early to contribute to design decisions and foster strong collaboration with the broader team. According to Jarnutowski, that trust laid the groundwork for seamless field execution. 鈥淭ogether, we designed and built a place where 700 people can call home. That is something we should all be proud of.鈥�

The result? A state-of-the-art student housing community delivered not just on time, but ahead of expectations. Today, SFSU has a signature facility that reflects its evolving identity, enhances student success, and supports a vibrant living-learning environment.

The success of this project demonstrates the power of early collaboration and flexible delivery models 鈥� an approach that鈥檚 now being used to accelerate other projects across California.

Scaling the Model Across California

Following the success at SFSU, McCarthy鈥檚 approach is scaling across multiple campuses. At UC Riverside, a similar progressive design-build model is being combined with prefabricated Cold Form Steel (CFS) panels to deliver 1,500 student beds in just 23 months. This evolving delivery method 鈥� Progressive Design-Build + Prefab = Accelerated Results 鈥� is now being applied at UC Davis, where the team is building on lessons learned to enhance speed, quality and efficiency on its next major student housing project.

This kind of 鈥渞olling expertise鈥� is critical for higher education systems managing multiple projects across different locations. Rather than starting from scratch each time, institutional leaders can rely on proven delivery partners to bring transferable knowledge, repeatable systems and a tested playbook for success.

The Shift from Commuter to Campus Community

Behind all these housing projects lies a deeper story. Once known as commuter schools, institutions like SFSU and UC Riverside are now embracing a residential campus identity, providing students with immersive, community-oriented environments. This is not just about beds; it鈥檚 about creating spaces where students can thrive, learn and grow.

Amenities such as study lounges, wellness spaces, community kitchens, and outdoor courtyards are no longer 鈥渘ice to have鈥� 鈥� they are expectations. And because design-build teams are engaged early, these features can be designed, priced, and integrated efficiently into the plan without creating late-stage cost overruns or schedule delays.

Driven by student needs and supported by delivery innovation, this shift is shaping a new era of campus development. Institutions are turning complexity into clarity and crisis into opportunity. They鈥檙e reimagining the college experience not as a logistical challenge, but as a chance to create spaces that reflect their mission and meet the real needs of their students.

As funding opportunities like California鈥檚 $2 billion Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program continue to drive new projects forward, the importance of smart, student-centered delivery models will only grow.

Denzil D鈥橲a is Preconstruction Director and Jack Carter is Vice President, Project Executive with

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SAN DIEGO 鈥� The first-ever -hosted took place on Feb. 12 at the University of San Diego. Despite the rainy weather, the event brought in close to 400 attendees and focused on the planning, development, construction and design of higher education facilities and university housing units. In particular, the two sessions and variety of expert panelists dove into the deliverability of student housing鈥攁s well as the trends and current challenges and realities that developers, AEC professionals and end users are experiencing. 听

Kicking off the half-day event, Joseph Von Meier, partner at CGS3, moderated the first presentation, 鈥淒eveloping & Designing the Next Generation Of Student Housing.鈥� Panelists included Hemlata Jhaveri, senior associate vice chancellor for residential, retail and supply chain services, UC San Diego; Alex Leonard, senior director of development, Greystar; Eric Naslund, principal, Studio E; Guy Carpino, engineering principal, Michael Baker International; Jason Dunster, senior integrated design director, McCarthy Building Companies; and Chris Sullivan, project director, Sundt. Von Meier explored a few topics but key among them was delivering cost-effective solutions for student populations, while not sacrificing quality, design and safety. 听

Both Jhaveri and Dunster discussed how student housing facility design has shifted and how both facility operators and AEC professionals are responding to students鈥� changing needs. 鈥淪ince COVID, we are really looking at amenities that set [students] up for success,鈥� explained Jhaveri. 听

Panelists dove into those amenities and how facility owners/operators are spending money wisely based on the needs of the current student population. Some 鈥渟tandout amenities鈥� that have become popular for on- and off-campus student housing, according to Dunster, include more indoor/outdoor community spaces to prepare students for a remote workforce and create healthy habits around work-life balance; creating gathering spaces through unconventional spaces that are 鈥渢ypically hidden鈥�, including laundry areas; outdoor security that blend into the natural environment; and student-favorite rooftop terraces. 听

In conjunction with creating community spaces, on-campus facilities departments are prioritizing mental health programming through residential programs. While these programs vary from campus to campus, in general, programming is all about building a safe community space to thrive, including offering wellness activities, cooking courses, community gardening, residential events and more.听

While providing high-end amenities to student populations at an affordable price is desirable for many owner/operators, there are obvious barriers. However, panelists explored tried-and-true construction and delivery methods to help mitigate some of these challenges, including prefabrication.

鈥淲e are seeing a faster construction timeframe by utilizing prefab buildings鈥nd the quality is really the same, so we are able to complete projects faster and more efficiently by incorporating these different methods,鈥� said Sullivan.听

The session concluded with a reminder to the audience that collaboration between project teams and stakeholders continues to be paramount to deliver attractive housing solutions to tenants that also meet the demand of the area鈥攁nd the longevity of student populations.听

Addressing the Housing Crisis听

After a packed networking break, where attendees had access to an exhibit space to meet with Bisnow sponsors鈥攊ncluding Gensler, Sundt, Studio E Architects, Elen Consulting, CGS3 Law, McCarthy, Michael Baker International, McCullough Landscape Architects, Fenagh Engineering and Testing, and KTGY鈥攖he second session kicked off with moderator David McCullough, principal at McCollough Landscape Architecture. 听

The panel, 鈥淎ccommodating the Growing Student Body Throughout San Diego,鈥� included Bob Schulz, university architect and associate vice president of real estate, San Diego State University; Abbie Hawkins, vice president of development, The Michaels Organization; Rudy Medina, founder and development director, Next Space Development; Richard King, principal, Gensler; and David Senden, principal, KTGY.听

A key theme of the discussion was reframing the dire lack of student house as a true 鈥渉ousing crisis鈥� and not just a student housing crisis. Many panelists agreed that finding solutions has shifted to not just looking at on-campus housing for students, but to considering entire geographic areas that are facing housing shortages. This includes how to deliver cost-effective solutions both on and off campus and desiging for the lifestyles of current students and younger generations. 听

One of the guiding themes was an understanding that this generation of students is different than those previous. Many college students are staying in 鈥渟tudent housing鈥� beyond graduation, which is changing the approach to housing design. 听

鈥淲hat we are seeing in San Diego, which is unique to this area, is that there鈥檚 jobs and opportunity, but it鈥檚 expensive,鈥� said King. 鈥淔or example, San Marcos (where Cal State San Marcos is located) has tripled its population in the last five years. The enrollment rates [at Cal State San Marcos] are continuing to grow and the students that are going to these schools are staying in these communities after graduation and working, which is great to have that talent contributing to the economy here.鈥� 听

To accommodate current and former students throughout their milestones, designers are providing high-end aesthetics and amenities.听

Delivering a student housing unit or community is so rewarding鈥攚hen it eventually comes online, according to Medina, Hawkins and Senden. The three panelists spoke on the building permit process and how local government can ease the housing strain by loosening certain parameters and helping to expedite processes.听

鈥淭he challenges for housing鈥攂oth off-campus and on-campus housing have the same challenges鈥攊s that people don鈥檛 want students as their neighbors, it鈥檚 difficult to secure funding and wait times for permits can be up to three years. So, it鈥檚 really hard to get these projects done,鈥� said Medina.听

Hawkins also reminded the audience of SB169, which was part of the 2021-22 California State Budget and established a program of one-time grants for the construction of student housing as well as 50% of funding for housing for California Community Colleges. While only 12 community colleges in the state currently have on-campus student housing, there is much more of an untapped market to explore and develop if ongoing funding allows, according to Hawkins.听

The event concluded by leaders signaling that the student housing market is certainly a robust area of higher education construction, and with an emphasis on creating long-lasting structures to serve the community for tenants beyond their studies, new approaches and ways to deliver buildings efficiently continues to be a hot topic for facility directors and the design and construction community.听

Upcoming Bisnow Events听听

Other in-person southern California Bisnow events include the on Feb. 25, the on March 13 and the on April 10.听

Other national student housing events include the in-person on April 30 as well as the in-person on June 18.听

For more information on the Bisnow San Diego Student Housing Summit, or to get involved in future events, please contact Samantha D鈥橝ngelo, senior event producer, at samantha.dangelo@bisnow.com.

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DAVIS, Calif. 鈥� The University of California, Davis (UC Davis), recently broke ground officially on The Green at West Village, a campus apartment project with room for up to 3,300 students.

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to celebrate with our partners this major step forward in addressing the critical need for affordable student housing,鈥� said Chancellor Gary S. May. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 groundbreaking is part of an ambitious plan to provide access to more housing for our students.鈥�

Work on the site began in December and the first 1,000 beds are expected to be available for fall 2020; the remaining beds will be completed in time for occupancy in fall 2021. The student housing development will be part of the UC Davis West Village, which is the largest student housing construction project in the United States.

The Michaels Organization of New Jersey is the developer, with architectural services by Stantec, a global design company headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. The general contractor is CBG Building Co. of Arlington, Va.

鈥淭his student housing community demonstrates what is possible when the public sector and private sector form partnerships that leverage the strengths of both,鈥� said Joe Coyle, president of Michaels Student Living. 鈥淎n affordable, sustainable living environment for the students of UC Davis is the goal, and this groundbreaking is the first milestone toward that end.鈥�

The Green at West Village will comprise nine four-story apartment buildings along with indoor and outdoor community space and recreational fields. A 10,000-square-foot community building will house a fitness center, multipurpose room and student support services. The project has a goal of 100 percent zero net-energy use on an annual basis.

The new undergraduate housing project is also a public-private partnership development with multiple study rooms and photovoltaic systems to provide power to the facility. The site for the construction is on approximately 34 acres to the north of the existing apartments at West Village and wraps around to the west.

The university鈥檚 original request for proposals aimed for 1,875 beds. However, UC Davis, The Michaels Organization and Stantec worked together to develop a plan that cut back on space for student vehicles, allowing more residential units.

The development is part of UC Davis鈥� new Long Range Development Plan, which projects the university will add 9,050 student beds and house 100 percent of any growth in student enrollment on campus.

The development is a public-private partnership between UC Davis, The Michaels Organization and Collegiate Housing Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

When construction is complete, the apartment complex will be operated by Collegiate Housing Foundation, which will hold the ground lease from the University of California. UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services will provide on-site program and residence support services and be responsible for leasing and marketing activities.

The first phases of apartments at UC Davis West Village opened from 2011 to 2013, providing space for 2,261 students. The West Village is the largest planned 鈥渮ero net energy鈥� community in the United States. The West Village Neighborhood includes the existing apartments managed by Greystar, Los Rios Community College, the Energy Hub, and soon, additional undergraduate housing at The Green.

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SUIE is a coeducational, public master’s college and university in Edwardsville, located about 20 miles northeast of St. Louis. After spending its first 40 years as a commuter campus, SIUE introduced its first on-campus student housing in 1997. Due to increased growth of its student population, the school began developing off-campus with two facilities already online.

Dubbed The Reserve, the complex is being developed by Cleveland-based Richland Residential and will be comprised of nine buildings hosting two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom units. The new complex will be located on a 15-acre site at the New Poag Road entry to the campus.

The project has not been without its critics 鈥� last year, the complex faced opposition when an SIUE biology professor inaugurated a petition that argued the student house project was situated too close to Bohm Woods Nature Preserve. The designated hunting area consists of 90 acres, and the majority of the parcel is composed of “upland woodland with several small grassland parcels interspersed on the east and west sides of the property,” according to the preserve’s website. Prof. Richard Essner argued that The Reserve could threaten wildlife in the preserve, notably the forest interior songbirds.

鈥淢any of them are threatened and endangered. They鈥檙e very sensitive to forest fragmentation and development,” Essner told last year. “When you have housing developments close to forests like this, these really sensitive forest interior species just don鈥檛 nest there. They leave and go elsewhere.鈥�

Locally based general contractor Contegra Construction Co. broke ground on the $20 million project in November 2017. The complex will be comprised of wood-frame construction and clad with brick and siding. Individual apartment units will feature full kitchens, washers and dryers, and living spaces. The development will also feature a clubhouse with a number of amenities, including a workout room, study area and a lounge/gaming room as well as leasing offices. Students will also be able to enjoy a pool and make use of a separate bathhouse.

Founded in 2003 by Eric Gowin, Contegra is one of the area鈥檚 largest general contractors and serves a national customer base that includes industrial, institutional, municipal, multi-family, office and retail projects.

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