The University of Rhode Island and Gilbane Development Company have closed on the financial arrangements for a public-private partnership to expand on-campus housing at URI’s Kingston Campus. Three new residence halls will begin construction later this month.
The two apartment-style residence halls on Flagg Road and the reconstruction of the Graduate Village Apartments complex for graduate students on Route 138 will provide a total of 1,100 beds. The new north Flagg Road hall is anticipated to open in August 2027 and the south Flagg Road hall in August 2028. Graduate Village will close in May 2026, then reopen for the fall 2028 semester. Graduate housing capacity will increase to about 200.
The two Flagg Road halls will have two- and four-bedroom apartment units, study spaces, community wellness rooms, a café, and an outdoor courtyard with walking and bike paths. Graduate Village will have studio through three-bedroom apartments, a renovated community center, and a revitalized community garden.
The combined project covers approximately 393,000 square feet and represents the largest expansion of on-campus housing at URI since 2012. Gilbane is acting as developer and design-builder, while CannonDesign is providing architectural services.
The initiative comes as URI experiences record admissions and growing demand for on-campus housing. It is part of a broader effort by the university to modernize its facilities, alongside ongoing investments in the Fine Arts Center and the Narragansett Bay Campus. This project is part of a broader trend among universities nationwide to modernize and expand on-campus student housing. In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, adjacent to Wake Forest University, a large purpose-built student apartment community is currently under development.
New On-Campus Student Housing at URI Kingston Campus: Project Factsheet
Project Scope
1,100 total new beds across three buildings
Public-private partnership with Gilbane
Construction Start: November 2025
Flagg Road Residence Hall (North)
Location: Northwest campus, north of Flagg Road
Size: 173,739 square feet
Capacity: 134 units
Opening: August 2027
Flagg Road Residence Hall (South)
Location: Northwest campus, south of Flagg Road, near Brookside Residence Hall
Size: 135,177 square feet
Capacity: 105 units
Opening: August 2028
Flagg Road Amenities
Two- and four-bedroom apartment units
Expanded study spaces and common areas
Community wellness rooms
Grab-and-go café
Outdoor courtyard with walking and bike paths
Total Flagg Road beds: 914
Graduate Village Apartments
Location: Highway 138
Size: 84,813 square feet
Capacity: 152 units, 200 beds
Current complex closes: May 2026
New complex opens: Fall 2028
Amenities in Graduate Village
Studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment units
Community garden
Improved community center with lounge space/fitness options
URI Kingston Campus new On-Campus Student Housing: Key Figures
Total new beds: 1,100
Total on-campus bed increase since 2012: 2,000+
Units in all three buildings: 391
Total square footage: 393,729
Project Team
Development Partner: Gilbane Development
Design-Builder: Gilbane Building
Architect: CannonDesign
Timeline
Financial close: November 2025
Construction begins: November 2025
Graduate Village closes: May 2026
North Flagg Road opens: August 2027
South Flagg Road opens: August 2028
Graduate Village reopens: Fall 2028
