Student Housing Development at University of Wisconsin-Madison Breaks Ground

Ground was recently broken for a new student housing facility near the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. VERVE Madison will stand 12 stories and contain 142 units for a total capacity of 536 residents among rooms ranging from one to five beds. Subtext and Stevens Construction Corp., partnered with architecture firm ESG for the building’s design. The facility is scheduled for completion in fall 2024.

The press release notes that each unit comes fully furnished with amenities like private bedrooms and bathrooms; Internet; laundry facilities; secured access; and design elements like stainless steel appliances, black accents, and private balconies in certain units.

The facility itself also offers 19,000 square feet of luxury amenity space including a rooftop pool and sun shelf, outdoor terrace, 24-hour fitness center and sauna, coffee bar, large and small group study lounges, a food market, and a pet spa.

“With record-breaking enrollment and shortage of highly amenitized housing near campus, we saw an opportunity to bring a VERVE project to Madison, giving students a community for both academic success and lifelong memories,” said Subtext Founder & CEO Brandt Stiles. University enrollment hit 49,886 for the fall 2022 semester, up almost 2,000 students from fall 2021.

“Contributing to the communities we love, live, and work in is an incredible honor,” said Mark Rudnicki, CEO and President of Stevens Construction Corp. “Partnering with Subtext and ESG to build a student living community that focuses on the well-being of its inhabitants is something we are very proud to be a part of.”

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Announces 2026 Product Award Winners

    Spaces4Learning has just announced the winners of the 2026 Product Awards! The award program spotlights outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered to be particularly noteworthy in their ability to enhance K–12 and higher-education learning environments.

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Opportunity by Design Framework

    Opportunity by Design

    Educational improvement efforts often focus on curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and intervention systems while treating the physical school building as background. But school design is not a passive backdrop to learning — it is a structural lever for equity.