The University of Utah is undergoing a significant transformation, shifting its historically commuter-centric campus into a dynamic residential community. To accomplish this, the university is dramatically increasing on-campus housing with over 1,400 new beds set to open in the summer of 2026 and another 1,000-1,500 beds planned for occupancy by 2029. Guided by a housing master plan (also designed by Ayers Saint Gross), this phased implementation establishes a greatly enriched overall student experience and fosters academic excellence and social engagement.

A key component of the overall master plan efforts will be a new College Town Magic District at the southeast corner of campus, one of six existing and evolving campus districts. The new district will be centered around housing, food, recreation, plaza spaces, and wellness venues for up to 14,000 students, with possible new developments to include restaurants, a grocery store, and retail shops.

As part of the district’s development, the historic Huntsman Center arena will be modernized and expanded. The renovated arena and nearby housing and mixed-use projects will be connected by a series of pathways and open spaces creating a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly campus core that will enable students and visitors to live and thrive while forming lifelong connections to the university.

This district follows the completion of a phase-one student housing complex, focused on establishing a strong first-year experience and drawing design inspiration from the campus’s mountain surroundings. Future housing phases will include a larger ratio of suites and semi-suites.