UC’s largest housing project takes shape

The new 546,606-square-foot residence hall complex spans two city blocks and 2.1 acres on the northwest corner of East McMillan and Vine streets near the Uptown campus. Known as Block 1 and Block 2, the new complex straddles Scioto Lane and sits across from Crossroads Uptown in the old St. George church in Clifton Heights. 

“I’m very excited about this project,” UC President Neville Pinto said during a recent site tour. “This is part of a series of major investments to improve housing options for our students. This is more than a new residence hall, and these aren’t just new buildings. These are investments into the well-being and future of the next generation of students. We need to make sure they are truly part of a great community of learners.”

Designed by Ratio Architects and William Rawn Associates, three interconnected structures on the eastern section of the property (Block 1) will include a 20,000-square-foot recreation center and a ground-level common space. A fourth building (Block 2) will rise on the smaller, western block. Turner Construction is serving as UC’s construction manager for the entire project.

The entire complex will add more than 1,300 student beds. The project began in August 2024, topped out this spring and will be ready for occupancy by fall 2027. It comes as UC’s enrollment continues to climb, reaching 53,682 students in fall 2025 — up more than 9,000 students since 2017, when Pinto became UC’s president.

“With our growth, it is absolutely essential that we continue to invest in our residence halls and all the amenities that come with on-campus living for our students,” Pinto said. “We must ensure that their experiences outside the classroom are just as positive as what they gain in their academic programs.”

UC completed two major renovations on residence halls in the past three years. An $80 million upgrade for Calhoun Hall, previously the university’s largest residence hall, was completed in January 2023, while neighboring Siddall Hall finalized completion of an $85 million upgrade in August 2024.

“Our residence halls play a critical role in providing the immersive and positive campus experiences we seek for our students,” Pinto told an audience of spectators at Calhoun’s grand reopening. “They have a profound impact on their engagement and retention.”  

Block 1 and Block 2 will feature modern suites along with a variety of shared amenities including courtyards, community kitchens, study lounges, fitness centers and a multipurpose event space. There are also two separate exterior, open-air courtyards accessible only from within the Block-1 building complex. 

Robert Knarr, capital projects senior project manager at UC, says a typical student unit will consist of a two-bedroom suite, a common vestibule and separate bathrooms. Each bedroom will house two students, so four students in a typical suite.

“This is the largest new housing development project in the history of UC,” adds Knarr.

The project’s design reflects the character of the Clifton Heights neighborhood with varied building forms, heights ranging from five to 12 stories, and a mix of exterior materials including brick, glass, terracotta, metal and precast concrete. An indoor parking garage with 200 spaces will be built into the hillside on Block 1, and a police safety substation will be integrated into the development. 

“With its prominent location at the eastern edge of the Clifton Heights neighborhood, the development will serve as a new important gateway to both UC and the local community,” explained Monika Watkins, university architect and associate vice president, UC Planning + Design + Construction.