Ranking among the top universities in the nation and the world, The University of Texas at Austin is constructing a new residence hall to increase on-campus housing for the 55,000 students enrolled at the school. The new Whitis Court Residence Hall, which is currently under construction, will replace an older 200-bed residence hall community with a building that can accommodate 1,000 residents. Strategically utilizing the site’s space on the urban campus, the new hall will be a multipurpose facility boasting engaging resident amenities, housing offices, a conference center, and a backyard like courtyard.
Seven stories high, the building’s exterior brick and cohesive design immediately identify it as a part of UT Austin’s campus, and as the first new residence hall in 20 years, materials and design decisions are being incorporated into the university’s new design standards to guide future projects. To preserve the 100-year-old live oak trees bordering the site, the residence hall is being built using a precast construction method, which not only eliminates the scaffolding that would have damaged the heritage trees, but also significantly reduces construction time, decreases the environmental impact, and conserves the limited available space on the urban site.
Adjacent to “The Drag,” a vibrant area with shops, restaurants, and art along the western edge of campus, the new Whitis Court Residence Hall will feature numerous amenities, from a gaming lounge inviting student interaction to phone booths offering moments of privacy that dorm-style accommodations can lack. The first floor will also house meeting and study spaces, active and passive lounges, a large kitchen, campus housing offices, and more. The upper floors will have traditional double occupancy rooms.
Engaging students, faculty, and guests from across campus, one wing of the residence hall’s first floor will be dedicated as a 6,000-square-foot conference center. For the campus’ daily use, it will be divided into a series of meeting rooms, but it can be converted into one large space capable of hosting up to 300 guests. A courtyard with built-in seating and wall panels for community art will be accessible to students and conference center guests. The landscaping, led by a local consultant, will combine turf with low maintenance, drought resistant plants to withstand the Texas heat and complement the heritage trees within the courtyard.
To be completed in 2027, the new Whitis Court residence hall is part of the university’s initiative to bring students back to campus and address the gap in affordable student housing. Compared to off-campus options, the on-campus housing will offer unique on-site amenities, proximity to academic facilities, and increased security measures. A reflection of UT Austin’s commitment to its student experience, the new residence hall will also aid undergraduates in finding their campus community through its intentional design, welcoming them as they step out of comfort zones and into an exciting new chapter.
