The Daily Dig:
The University of Rhode Island and Gilbane have broken ground on a new on-campus student housing development at URI's Kingston campus. The project includes two new undergraduate apartment style residence halls on Flagg Road on the northwest side of campus. It also includes the reconstruction of the Graduate Village Apartments along Route 138. Together, the development will deliver more than 1,100 new beds.
The Flagg Road buildings will add 914 beds in two and four bedroom apartment units and include study spaces, common areas, wellness rooms, a grab-and-go cafƩ, an outdoor courtyard, and walking and bike paths. The Graduate Village redevelopment will include 152 units across studio, one, two, and three bedroom layouts, along with a revived community garden and an enhanced community center. The first residence hall is scheduled to open in August 2027, with full project completion planned for fall 2028.
Project Snapshot:
Owner / Partner: University of Rhode Island
Design Builder: Gilbane Building Company
Design Team: CannonDesign
Sector: Higher Education / Student Housing
Scope: Three residence halls; more than 1,100 total beds
Flagg Road Halls: 914 beds; two buildings (173,739 SF / 134 units and 135,177 SF / 105 units)
Graduate Village: 152 units; 84,813 SF
Value / Financing: Planning and financing included as part of P3; dollar value not disclosed
Location: Kingston, Rhode Island
Timeline / Status: Under construction; first occupancy August 2027; full completion fall 2028
TheJobWalk Thoughts:
This is a sizable campus housing package with good program clarity upfront, which always helps keep things moving. The P3 structure puts planning, financing, design, and construction under one roof, so you've got fewer handoff points where things can go sideways. That said, juggling two separate sites on an active campus is where this gets tricky. Some students don't take summers off anymore, foot traffic is constant, and staging becomes a puzzle. The August 2027 delivery date for the first building means there's no wiggle room if site logistics or long lead items start slipping. Gilbane's done this dance before, but schedule discipline is going to matter more than the contract structure.
