Good News is Worth Sharing

July 20, 2024

MALVERN, Pa. – Balfour Beatty’s Campus Solutions (BBCS) and U.S. Buildings operations today announced a partnership with the University of Florida (UF) to deliver a major student housing redevelopment project in Gainesville. As part of the UF’s Housing & Residence Life 10-year capital plan, the project redevelops the existing Trusler, Simpson and Graham Hall sites into modern residential communities designed to enhance the student living experience and strengthen the long-term campus growth.

BBCS will serve as developer of the new student housing campus, while Balfour Beatty’s U.S. Buildings operations will lead design-build delivery in a 65:35 joint venture with Stellar Group. The integrated team also includes architecture firms Clark Nexsen and Walker Architects with Rieth Jones Advisors serving as advisor to the university.

The multi-phase development will deliver 2,217 beds across four residential buildings, totaling more than 680,000 square feet. The student housing communities will also include a range of amenities and support spaces intended to foster student engagement, accessibility and academic success, including:

• Café and Amazon Market
• Disability Resource Center serving university students
• Package Distribution Center for on-campus residents
• Multipurpose event space
• Study and collaboration spaces
• Social gathering areas
• Floor-level laundry rooms and shared kitchens

Additionally, the project features an approximately 18,000-square-foot Disability Resource Center, centralizing support services for more than 8,000 students. This facility reinforces UF’s longstanding investment and commitment to accessibility as well as enhancing its ability to support a growing and varied student population.

“This development represents an exciting opportunity to partner with the University of Florida in delivering a transformational residential experience for students,” said Jeffrey Tate, vice president, Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions. “The project reflects a shared commitment to creating modern, vibrant living-learning environments that support student success and strengthen the campus community for years to come.”

“Our company’s ability to bring a vertically integrated developer and design-builder approach provides a unique advantage for partners like the University of Florida,” said John Harris, executive vice president of Balfour Beatty US Buildings operations in Florida. “From the outset, we’ve worked collaboratively to align project goals with real-time solutions that meet the university’s operational needs, such as schedule and budget, while also delivering modern, high-quality living environments that support the university’s vision for the student experience.”

“This is Phase 1 of our plan to add 10,000 new beds during the next 10 years, an exciting $2 billion-plus initiative envisioned by the UF Board of Trustees,” said Mori Hosseini, UF Board of Trustees chair. “This project is critical to providing only the best facilities for our student body and keeping UF competitive in our ongoing push to attract and retain the best and brightest.”

Construction of UF’s newest student housing community is underway. Two residential buildings are scheduled for completion in Fall 2028, with the remaining two expected to open in late Fall 2028.