University of California, Riverside Breaks Ground on $285M Student Housing Facility

The University of California, Riverside recently broke ground on a new student housing project on its campus, according to a news release. The North District Phase 2 Student Housing Development will measure in at 424,000 square feet and cost an estimated $285 million. The residence facility will provide housing to both UCR students and students from the Riverside Community College District.

The university is partnering with McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. for the project’s construction. Both UCR and RCCD have experienced recent bursts in enrollment necessitating adequate, affordable housing for students.

“The McCarthy team is proud to be part of this revolutionary project, which helps bridge the gap between larger universities and community colleges,” said McCarthy Vice President Sarah Carr. “This housing development will provide affordable options that will enhance graduation rates not only for UCR students, but for Riverside City College students as well—a benefit to the entire community.”

The new facility will feature 429 single- and double-occupancy, apartment-style units with between one and four bedrooms, a kitchen, and living room space. The building will also include amenities like WiFi, air conditioning, study areas and communal spaces, a café, outdoor fields, and a park. Funding comes partially from the State Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program.

“We can’t solve all the problems that are challenges for students, but we can solve those two by bringing students to the campus, letting them live here, wear their UCR or RCC T-shirt, and just be part of the campus,” said UCR Chancellor Kim Wilcox. “It breaks down a barrier and aside from the housing, it provides them with a different sense of themselves.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition