This new four story, energy efficient residence hall is a living-learning community for the Honors College, and is the University’s first housing expansion since 2009. It brings the number of available beds to approximately 4,300. This particular housing expansion is all part of UNF’s strategic vision to increase enrollment to 25,000 students over the next five years.
John Hale, UNF’s associate vice president and chief facilities officer, said the new student housing project is the result of a demand study. “The demand study looked at student needs, enrollment, growth, housing inventory and the North Florida market,” Hale said. “It was determined then that more student housing was needed to keep up with the University’s growth pattern. This project helps to fulfill that need.”
The residence component consists of 520 student housing beds arranged in traditional, suite, and apartment style resident assistant apartments, area coordinator apartments, and student support spaces (including laundry facilities, common lounges, common kitchens, study areas, C-store and Honors College program spaces). An added feature, not found in other on-campus housing, is a pathway opening between floors for more communications with residents.
The main floor features a larger kitchen, including a future cooking demonstration feature, offices, larger gathering and study spaces, mail, laundry, two Resident Advisor apartments and space for an outside food vendor. Outdoor amenities include basketball and sand volleyball courts, green space and a boardwalk connector to the center of campus.
Dr. Jeff Chamberlain, dean of Hicks Honors College has said, “Living-learning communities have proven to be exceptional environments for students. The new residence hall will accommodate students at various stages of their time at UNF, which would help when upperclassmen honors students, mentor first-year students. 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.”
The new building was constructed of concrete tilt wall panels and additional work will be completed at the existing central utility plant (new chiller, cooler, pumps and boilers) and will be linked to the Honors Dorm through underground chilled and hot water piping.