Adam RollinsEXCLUSIVE: This article is a Strategic Partnerships Inc. exclusive story—only available through Government Contracting Pipeline. To receive more exclusive content, subscribe for free to the Government Contracting Pipeline here.
The West Kentucky University (WKU) Board of Regents has authorized an innovative new student housing project development model to replace the university’s oldest dorms.
The transformational plan will be part of a public-private partnership (P3) model that will be offered to interested parties. WKU plans to release solicitation documents soon with a due date slated for fall 2025. Once a developer is selected, construction is slated for 2026.
Student housing upkeep has faced increasing challenges due to overall age or disrepair, posing infrastructure issues rampant throughout the university’s facilities. Recently, WKU was forced to close two of its newest dorms for the upcoming academic year for repair and renovations, while a third will be entirely demolished.
The treatment of these existing dorms is the first phase of the university’s three-phase plan to transform on-campus student housing. The second phase will prioritize replacing two halls with new facilities on the same site to deliver 1,000 new beds.
The final phase will center around constructing an upperclassman village, providing an additional 1,400 bed facility. The university plans to remove three halls to make room for the new development.
University officials stated that the long-term vision would see all community housing options on campus eliminated and replaced with hotel-, suite- and pod-style housing. By taking a more involved role in addressing building code compliance and student expectations, WKU intends to bolster the university as a competitively viable choice when compared to other modernized university campuses.
Photo by Kelly from Pexels
