FAU to begin construction of new residence hall in spring 2025
Florida Atlantic University is designing a new seven-story residence hall for the Boca Raton campus and plans to start construction during the spring 2025 semester, according to Brian Fisher, the associate vice president of operations in the Division of Student Affairs.
The new dorm building will be located west of the University Village Apartments (UVA) on the empty grass lot across the street, Fisher wrote in an email to the University Press. He said the residence hall, which is currently unnamed, will have 674 beds.
FAU spokesperson Joshua Glanzer told the UP in May that the university expects to have a new residence hall completed by fall 2026. Glanzer confirmed on Sept. 30 that he was referring to the dorm beginning construction in the spring.
As listed under current projects on the FAU Boca Raton Campus Master Plan, the dorm will be designated for upperclassmen. However, Fisher notes that while all FAU students are eligible to apply for this residence hall, the “primary audience” will mostly be sophomores.
The master plan is a “living document which is reviewed and updated every five years,” Fisher notes. FAU adopted the most recent plan in April 2021.
This new residence hall is currently in the design process. FAU oversees the building design, as the university’s Design and Construction team leads all major projects. Fisher says HKS Architecture and Balfour Beatty, a construction management firm, are collaborating on this project.
The UP requested design documents for this residence hall on Sept. 26 but did not receive any by the time of publication.
Future housing concept
While this unnamed dorm is about to make its way to campus in fall 2026, FAU is conceptualizing more housing in the master plan. However, Fisher says there are no plans currently in place.
In the near-term projects section, there is housing referred to as “Gateway Village Apartments + Retail,” which is located where UVA currently resides.
According to Fisher, “This is shown on the master plan as a concept only. There are no current plans or timeline associated with this project.”
Elisabeth Gaffney is the Editor-at-Large for the University Press. For more information on this article or others, you can reach Elisabeth at elisabethgaffreports@gmail.com or DM her on Instagram @elisabethgaff.
Latest University Press
- Hooked and stolen: How rebounding shark populations are changing Florida’s fishingIn the turquoise waters off Florida’s East coast, Captain Douglas Covin cuts his boat engine and waits. Within minutes, they arrive – six 300-pound bull sharks circling expectantly. The moment a sailfish takes his line and before he can even begin to reel it in, the sharks strike, leaving him with only half a fish...
- More than just trees: Explore FAU’s Robert J. Huckshorn ArboretumFrom birds to butterflies, the Robert J. Huckshorn Arboretum on Florida Atlantic University’s John D. MacArthur campus in Jupiter may seem like a sea of trees, but in reality, it is home to a near-endless list of wildlife. Walking through the Arboretum, one can discover the flourishing plant life of the urban forest, unique ecosystems...
- FAU hosts Wimberly PAWS event to help students de-stress before finalsFlorida Atlantic University students could pet therapy dog K9 Nala at the “Wimberly PAWS” event in the S.E. Wimberly Library to relax and de-stress as finals week approaches. The event, organized through a collaboration between FAU Libraries, FAU Police Department and Owls Care Health Promotion, aimed to promote self-care and mental wellness by providing resources...
- FAU launches new research center to combat brain diseasesFlorida Atlantic University received a $2 million philanthropic donation on March 10 from Philanthropist David Nicholson, which the university is planning to use to launch a center called the “David Lynn Nicholson Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research” to battle against neurodegenerative brain diseases. The research center will bring together different scientists and engineers to combat...
- Home no more: FAU’s burrowing owls face evictionWith the growing need for on-campus housing, the grassy area next to Boca Raton’s Parliament Hall was included in the university’s master plan, slated for construction of a seven-story residence hall over a burrowing owl habitat. Information in these photo captions is attributed to a Feb. 12 University Press article. This photojournalism project is in...
- ‘Words have consequences’: SG Boca House addresses backlash over comment by Speaker Pro TemporeThe Boca Raton House of Representatives called for a censure of Speaker Pro Tempore Alex Mojica at its April 18 meeting, a formal statement of disapproval following a controversial comment he made during an April 4 meeting. The remark, “Now if I had attacked Gaza like Benjamin Netanyahu, that would be different,” sparked backlash from...