The University of Vermont is building a residence hall on its Burlington campus for first-year students.

The $65 million, 699-student facility is being built in the center of the academic campus, adjacent to classroom buildings and academic facilities, and is scheduled to open in August 2017.

To make room for the new student housing, the university has torn down the Chittenden, Buckham, and Wills residence halls, which provided space for 391 students.

The facility will have a 450-seat dining hall, a bridge/connector to Bailey/Howe Library, seminar rooms to create a living/learning environment, a fitness center and a location on the Green Mountain Walkway, which traverses campus.

The project is being designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver rating for environmentally friendly facilities.