The University of South Florida St. Petersburg has begun construction on a 375-bed residence hall and dining facility.
The university says the new residence hall will expand available housing on the St. Petersburg campus by nearly 70 percent. The facility also will house the campus’ first full-service dining facility, which accommodates 400.
Construction is expected to be finished by July 2020.
“This is much more than a facility,” Regional Chancellor Martin Tadlock says. “It will be a place where students hang out in the first-floor lounge, study together, learn from each other, grab a bite to eat and plan a future filled with hope and a promise for a sustainable future and a better tomorrow. “
The student housing will be suite-style; about 60 to 75 percent will be four-bed, two-bath single occupancy units. The remainder will be two-bed, one-bath double-occupancy units.
The hall will have a student lounge and study room on each floor, as well as a community laundry space. The first floor will house a spacious communal kitchen as well as a large lounge with multiple areas to congregate, study and hang out.
Stephanie Goforth, Chair of the USFSP Campus Board and a member of the USF Board of Trustees, says the residence hall will be an important step forward in the university’s evolution. It will expand on-campus housing capacity to more than 20 percent of overall student enrollment.
“Studies have shown that residential students are more invested and involved in campus life, are more likely to be satisfied with their university experience and persist and progress at a higher rate than those who don’t get the opportunity to live on campus,” Goforth says.
The facility design will incorporate environmentally friendly elements with a goal of achieving LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council to align with USF St. Petersburg’s emphasis on sustainability. If certified, it would be the fourth USFSP building to earn gold certification.
The architect is The Beck Group.
MORE: YouTube video of residence hall plans.
