A new campus residences plan has been announced by Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. The plan includes constructing the largest-ever residence hall with three new residence halls, and 600 new parking spaces.
The Samford Horizons plan was approved by the university’s Board of Trustees at its December meeting. Specifically, it involves a new residence hall for first-year students and two new residence halls for upper-division students. Additionally, it involves the new parking spaces. According to the university, the new first-year dorm will be located north of the Ralph W. Beeson University Center and south of Lena Vail Davis Residence Hall. Further, it will feature 513 beds in single and double-suite-style configurations.
The Samford Freshman Commons
Combined with Mamie Mell Smith and Vail Residence Halls, the three-building complex will form Samford’s Freshman Commons. This will serve as housing to all first-year students. Furthermore, other residence halls currently used for freshman housing again will be available. This is an effort to address the high demand for on-campus living for upper-division students.
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Number of beds in the upper-division residence halls
Also included are two new upper-division residence halls. They will have a total of 140 beds, and will be located just east of the Tri Delta house in the West Campus Residence Halls area. Initially serving both the general student body and Greek chapters, anticipated growth in Samford’s Greek population may eventually require both facilities to become dedicated Greek housing.
Estimated costs for the Samford University project
The university says construction on the first phase should cost around $188 million. The projects should be finished by fall of 2025.
“The plans approved by our Board of Trustees represent an exciting chapter in Samford’s growth and development,” said President Beck A. Taylor. “When completed, we anticipate every bed in the new facilities will be filled on opening, and importantly, Samford will once again reach our goal of housing 75% of our undergraduates on campus.”
