The University of Florida’s New Undergraduate Residential Complex with Honors College was recently fully completed. The dorm complex is now the largest on campus, with the ability to house more than 1,400 students. It’s the result of a planning process that dates back more than six years. The journey from the vision to build new student housing to completing a state-of-the-art facility began back in 2018.
The Project Origins
The University of Florida, with a goal of improving its campus and student facilities, conducted research in the fall of 2018 by surveying students on a variety of topics. As a result of those surveys, the university learned that students valued factors such as quality of housing and proximity to campus, among other things. The school contracted architectural firm VMDO to create a master housing plan that became the blueprint for what is now known has “Honors Village.” The Weitz Company began construction work in 2021 and, after some delays related to global supply chain disruptions, finished in 2024. Cost to complete this project was over $160 million.
Dorm Rooms and Suites
In total, the residential complex is 413,587 square feet, featuring 825 units and 1,415 beds, making it the largest student housing development in the history of the university. As the name would suggest, the residence is limited to honors students, who have the option of living in a traditional single, a traditional double, suite single with a semi-private bathroom, or a suite double with a semi-private bathroom. These fully furnished rooms give students access to high-speed WiFi, centrally located bathrooms, and a dual passenger elevator in each building.
Honors Village
The “Village” is located at 1512 Museum Road on the east side of the Gainesville campus. It’s designed to be almost its own city, with an emphasis on learning and community. The project has significantly expanded on-campus living by focusing on modern spaces, accessibility, and sustainability. The complex, which serves as a new centerpiece for the campus, blends modern design and the university’s classic style. It’s made up of five buildings, four residence halls, and a Learning Commons.
Each floor features a lounge, kitchen, social space, study space, laundry room, folding tables, and copious seating locations. Residents have access to package lockers and a printer station in addition to food locations such as The Hub, The Eatery at Broward Hall, and The Market at Beaty Towers. Meanwhile, the first floor of each building features a programming space based on the building theme. These include meditation space, study areas, a library, ensemble and private music practice rooms, and a maker space. These areas are designed to enhance the academic experience for students by creating spaces for collaborative learning and personal growth.
The Outdoor Space at Honors Village
The dorm buildings come together to form a quad, where students may also enjoy the outdoor space. To the east, there is a tree-lined pathway known as Honors Avenue that connects a major pedestrian thoroughfare from north to south. Meanwhile, the Honors Courtyard serves as the project’s landscape center – it’s a space where students can gather to study, socialize, and enjoy the region’s beautiful weather. The bases of the buildings feature covered walks, breezeways, porches, and overhangs that allow students to receive shade and shelter in the warmer months.
At Construction Protection Systems, we’re proud to have played a small part in development of The University of Florida’s New Undergraduate Residential Complex with Honors. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield—the original, reusable door protection system.