University of Montana Breaks Ground on New Residence Hall

The University of Montana in Missoula, Mont., recently broke ground on a new, 600-bed residence hall to address housing needs on campus, according to a university news release. The university has seen three consecutive years of enrollment growth against the backdrop of a local housing market less than conducive to student needs.

“We know that when students live on campus, they build community, they succeed in the classroom and they enhance their college experience,” said Seth Bodnar, university president. “This is not just a building. It will be a place that enhances the success of our students through advanced community building and affordable, safe living.”

Construction is scheduled to start this fall and has an estimated completion date of fall 2027. The university currently sees an on-campus population of about 2,000, and 1,000 more students live in university-owned off-campus properties, the news release reports.

“At UM, our residence halls are critical to the educational and social journey of our college years,” said McKenlie Ballard, student and community development coordinator at UM. “For many students, there isn’t a place where they will spend more time during their years at UM than their residence hall. Our residence halls are the place where students meet their friends, begin to learn the lessons of adulthood and discover who they truly are.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Enjoy Tax and Energy Savings with the Right Ceiling Solutions

    Thanks to recent innovations pairing mineral fiber ceiling panels with phase change material technology (PCM), architects, designers, facility managers, and other key players in construction and renovation projects are re-thinking the role ceilings play in supporting environmental objectives—especially energy savings.

  • Lewis C. Cassidy Elementary School

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. Lewis C. Cassidy Elementary School has been recognized with an EDS 2025 Grand Prize award in the category of New Construction.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • Embry-Riddle Breaks Ground on New Office Building

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced that construction has begun on a new office building for its campus Research Park, according to a news release. The university partnered with Hoar Construction on the 34,740-square-foot Center for Aerospace Technology II (CAT II), which will be used for research and lab purposes.

Digital Edition