Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

UT-Austin Breaks Ground on Grad Student Housing

  • By Matt Jones
  • 04/20/22

The University of Texas at Austin recently began construction on a graduate student housing development in the Blackland neighborhood in East Austin, according to a news release. The development will have the capacity for 784 beds across studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The project was originally conceived in the 2015 East Campus Master Plan, and construction is scheduled for completion by fall 2024.

The new housing complex will feature amenities like public courtyards, a fitness center, an outdoor classroom, an amphitheater, public and private study spaces, and a large multipurpose space for community and student events.

“UT Austin is committed to attracting and developing talented, high-impact graduate students, and to do so, we are working to provide more affordable housing options that also promote a sense of community,” said University President Jay Hartzell. “I am grateful for our ongoing conversations with the Blackland Neighborhood Association, and I am excited to collaborate as we go forward so our graduate students are both contributing to and benefiting from the vibrancy of the neighborhood.”

The university is partnering with American Campus Communities during the construction phase and will also get input from advisory firm Brailsford & Dunleavy, according to a news release. The finished housing community will be managed and operated by University Housing and Dining.

Construction begins on the heels of another university announcement regarding the purchase of Dobie Twenty21, a 27-story residential complex located just off campus. The two projects combined will provide students with an additional 1,700 beds in university-managed, affordable student housing, the press release states.

"Getting back to near-normal operations this semester has rekindled our passion for the residential experience and campus community, which are central to the UT experience," Hartzell told local news in October 2021. "And we know that having students closer to campus helps them build community and thrive academically."

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.

  • Minnesota District Completes Renovations to 3 Schools

    South Washington County Schools in Woodbury, Minn., recently completed major renovation projects to three of its schools, according to a news release. The district partnered with Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and the upgrades were part of a larger referendum that voters approved in fall 2024.

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.