Changes have been made to plans for a new University of Arizona residence hall that will rise at one of Tucson's busiest intersections.
University officials announced in May that the project, originally planned as a 19-story building on the northwest corner of Speedway and Campbell Boulevards, will now stand just nine stories tall.
Despite the reduction in height, the dormitory will house more students than originally proposed.
"That's also part of our commitment to being a good neighbor," UA spokesperson Mitch Zak said.
Under its “Success for Every Student” initiative, the UA announced plans in February to build a new residence hall for first-year students only.
The Arizona Board of Regents approved the project in February.
University President Suresh Garimella said the residence hall would support student success by providing housing, dining and other resources in a centralized location.
Regent Fred DuVal praised the project, noting that the 2.49-acre site — formerly home to Palm Shadows Apartments — lacks nearby dining options for students.
“It’s long overdue. We’ve been hoping to get this for 20 years,” DuVal told Garimella at a February ABOR meeting. “Congratulations -- hallelujah that you finally got the right deal at the right time.”
The site has been the focus of several redevelopment proposals in recent years. Minnesota-based Mortenson Development had proposed a 19-story private student housing complex for the property in 2025. According to the Arizona Daily Star, the company later abandoned the project because of declining enrollment and rising construction costs.
The Collegiate Housing Foundation, a nonprofit housing developer based in Alabama, purchased the property from Mortenson in 2026. Representatives of the foundation did not respond to AZPM’s requests for comment.
Under an agreement between the university and Collegiate Housing Foundation, the project will be financed through student housing revenue over the course of about 40 years.
While the original proposal called for 1,200 beds across 19 stories, the revised design will provide approximately 1,300 beds, according to Zak.
"All those things play into the equation of how do you create an environment where you can really live that mission of success for every student," Zak said.
He said the demolition permit for Palm Shadows Apartments was issued March 9, though the complex was not fully demolished until mid-May.
The construction announcement came as the university said it would require most first-year students to live on campus beginning next school year, unless they qualify for an exemption.
University officials say modernizing existing residence halls and building new ones will help accommodate the increased demand and contribute to higher retention rates.
Construction is expected to begin later this summer, and the residence hall remains on schedule to open for students in Fall 2028.
