A new University of Georgia residence hall and multi-use dining, health and academic center was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on Tuesday in an effort to expand services for the university’s growing student body.
The 565-bed residence hall for first-year students will be located on South Lumpkin Street near the intersection of West Wray Street, a site that is currently a surface parking lot. The estimated project cost is $61.5 million. This new facility will work to accommodate the increased growth in the university’s first-year classes, which grew from fewer in 5,500 students in fall of 2019 to 6,250 students in fall 2022. Because UGA requires first-year students to live on campus, this growing number of students has placed a strain on the existing residence halls.
“We know that living on campus is critical for first-year students to help them engage with the campus community and to benefit fully from all that the university offers,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “I am grateful for the Board of Regents’ support of our efforts to continue enhancing UGA’s world-class learning environment for these exceptional students.”
The proposal also approved plans to build a 68,000 square foot West Campus dining, learning and wellness center located at the intersection of University Court and East Cloverhurst Avenue. This facility would include classrooms, a 800-seat dining commons and an ancillary clinic for medical and mental health services. The estimated construction cost of the center would be around $47 million.
To account for new facilities and an increased student body, a separate proposal that would build a new parking deck adjacent to the existing West Campus Parking Deck is under consideration. The proposed deck would add 1,100 parking spots to meet campus parking demands both during construction and for future use. If approved, the university plans to open the deck in fall 2025.
Design of the residence hall is set to begin this summer, with construction to begin summer 2024. Both facilities are extended to be open to students in fall of 2026.
