UGA to build new 125K square-foot freshman residence hall as enrollment grows

ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia will build a new residence hall for incoming freshmen in a move aimed at addressing the housing needs of students as enrollment continues to increase.

The hall, which was approved by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia on Tuesday, will be built on South Lumpkin Street near the intersection of West Wray Street. It is expected to hold 565 beds when construction is finished.

The university is also weighing a separate proposal to build a new parking deck by Brumby Hall, near the existing West Campus Parking Deck.

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The new dorm building will be built in a space that is currently a surface parking lot, according to the university. When it is completed, the facility is expected to be 125,000 square feet.

The move to build additional student housing comes as the university says enrollment grew from 5,500 students in the fall of 2019 to more than 6,250 in fall 2022.

UGA requires all first-year students to live on campus. As a result, officials said more space would help support work to “enhance” the university’s “world-class learning environment.”

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“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,” Jere W. Morehead, UGA president, said.

The plans for the new residence hall also include proposals to build a new dining, learning, and wellness center in addition to dorms and more parking.

According to the university, the dining, learning, and wellness center would create roughly 68,000 square feet “dedicated to academic and student-focused services,” as well as a floor for active learning classrooms, a University Health Center ancillary clinic, and space for nutritional counseling for students.

Classrooms in the building would also be used for evening meeting spaces for student organizations, with the current plan to have construction begin in the summer 2024.

The university’s release on the building plan said the residence hall and other facilities would be open to students starting in fall 2026. The dining and parking still need to be approved.

“The University of Georgia has always been committed to providing the best learning experience, and our high rankings in student and campus life illustrate that we’re fulfilling that commitment,” Victor K. Wilson, UGA’s vice president for student affairs, said. “Our residence halls are a key part of the student experience and making UGA a home for our students.”

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The extra parking deck, if approved, would add an extra 1,100 spaces for student vehicles, allowing the university to “more than offset lots” and provide more parking capacity for future needs.

Renderings of the project are expected in the summer, according to a statement from UGA.

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