University of North Florida Breaks Ground on New Residence Hall

The University of North Florida recently announced the groundbreaking of a new Honors Residence Hall on its campus in Jacksonville, Fla., according to a news release. The facility is set to open in fall 2025 and will be the university’s first new residence hall since 2009. The new residence hall will bring the campus’ total number of beds to about 4,300 and is part of a university-wide strategic plan to increase the university’s enrollment to 25,000 students by 2029.

The residence hall will stand four stories and cover almost 165,000 square feet, the news release reports. It will include space for about 520 beds, and features beyond standard living-space amenities include a pathway opening between floors, a kitchen, gathering and study spaces, outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, and administrative space. The university partnered with Hastings+Chivetta Architects for the project's design and Ajax Building Company as general contractor.

“We are excited to begin construction on this important new community for our students,” said UNF President Moez Limayem. “This new residence hall aligns with UNF’s strategic growth and our commitment to create environments that support student success.”

The living-learning community, designed for honors students, was designed to support student development and learning by connecting students with similar interests and passions. The university has already employed the model in more than a dozen other residence halls on-campus; they have “proven to be exceptional environments for students,” according to Hicks Honors College Dean Dr. Jeff Chamberlain.

“The intention is to promote an environment where students have common interests to build a strong academic and social support system in a convenient location,” said Chamberlain.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • New eBook Shares Guidelines on Building CTE Centers

    Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum and resources provider iCEV recently announced the publication of a new eBook sharing guidance and insights on building new CTE facilities, according to a news release.

  • Recent University of Pennsylvania Projects Receive LEED Certifications

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently announced that three of its recent construction projects have earned LEED certifications, according to university news. The Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology (VLEST) received a LEED Platinum certification, Amy Gutmann Hall a LEED Gold, and the OTT Center for Track and Field a LEED silver.

  • Construction Begins on East Austin CTE-Focused High School

    The Del Valle Independent School District recently announced that construction has begun on a new CTE-focused high school in Austin, Texas, according to a news release. Del Valle High School will measure in at 473,338 square feet and have the capacity for 2,400 students.

  • KI Launches K–12 Classroom Furniture Giveaway

    Contract furniture company KI recently announced the launch of its fourth-annual Classroom Furniture Giveaway, which awards $50,000 each to four K–12 educators across the U.S., according to a news release. The goal is to address decreasing student engagement and increasing teacher burnout numbers by updating learning spaces to accommodate modern needs.

Digital Edition