URI to build new dormitories to boost on-campus housing by 1,100 beds – The Boston Globe

PROVIDENCE — Plans to build new dormitories that will provide more than 1,100 additional beds at the University of Rhode Island are moving forward after school officials selected a developer as part of what they described as a new, public-private partnership.

The school picked Providence-based Gilbane Development Company for the project on its Kingston Campus in South Kingstown, R.I., which, when complete, will house undergraduate and graduate students, URI said in a statement.

Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2025, after a feasibility study is completed.

Gilbane was selected following a request-for-information and request-for-proposal process “that drew interest from several development companies,” school officials said.

Under the partnership, the university will lease land to the development and building company, which in turn will “plan, finance, design, construct, and operate the new residence halls,” school officials said.

“This public-private partnership offers many benefits to the University and our students,” Abby Benson, URI’s vice president for administration and finance, said in a statement.

“The partnership enables us to address the growing demand for on-campus housing expressed by URI students. It also enables us to develop new housing on an accelerated timeline while ensuring fiscal responsibility.”

The plan currently calls for several new residential buildings, outfitted with apartment-style suites, according to URI. Students are expected to move in starting in the 2027 fall semester.

The plan arrives as Rhode Island and New England face a housing crisis, with rents and sales prices driven up by a lack of inventory amid high demand.

The neighboring town of Narragansett has sought to prohibit more than three college students from living in any non-owner-occupied dwelling unit in town. The provision doesn’t specifically target URI students, but the university has a significant off-campus presence in Narragansett.

Increasing on-campus housing is part of URI’s 10-year strategic plan, or “Focus URI,” that was put in place last year.

When the latest project is completed, URI will have added more than 2,000 on-campus beds since 2012, school officials said. Most recently, the school opened the 500-bed Brookside Hall in 2020 and Hillside Hall, which houses more than 400 beds, in 2012, they said.

URI has more than 14,000 undergraduates and more than 2,000 graduate students enrolled for the 2024-2025 school year.

“We know many of our students want to live on campus and value the many benefits of on-campus living, including convenient access to campus resources and amenities,” Ellen Reynolds, URI’s vice president for student affairs, said in a statement. “We are excited to move these plans forward and to offer additional and enhanced on-campus living opportunities for our students.”

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Christopher Gavin can be reached at christopher.gavin@globe.com.