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

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • Kimball International Releases Curated Design Support Program

    Commercial furnishings company Kimball International recently announced the launch of a new end-to-end design support program, DesignSuite. According to a news release, its goal is to guide architecture & design professionals and dealer partners through the process from vision to specification.

  • South Carolina District Starts Construction on $50M Middle School Renovation

    The Aiken County Public School District in North Augusta, S.C., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the $50-million renovation and expansion of North Augusta Middle School, according to a news release. The project’s funding comes from the 2024 renewal of a one-cent sales tax approved by local voters.