UNF unveils new dorm as demand for housing grows

The University of North Florida is expanding housing options for students with the addition of Osprey Ridge, a new residence hall set to open this fall as the university’s first major housing expansion since 2009.

UNF President Moez Limayem and other officials on Wednesday provided a tour of the facility on Wednesday. The dorm will bring 520 beds to campus at a key time for the university, which is dealing with a housing crunch.

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Osprey Ridge was designed by PBK and constructed by Ajax Building Co., with several UNF alumni involved in the project.

“As a former student myself, it means a lot to be part of a project that will have a lasting impact on campus,” said Sid Myakala, a project engineer who earned his master’s in construction management from UNF in 2024.

Located next to Osprey Fountains on Osprey Ridge Road, the new four-story, 165,000-square-foot facility includes a living-learning community specifically designed for students in UNF’s Hicks Honors College, though it’s open to students from all academic programs.

“Osprey Ridge is more than a place to live. It is a vibrant community designed to inspire academic achievement, foster personal growth and create lifelong connections,” Limayem said.

The building features modern amenities such as study lounges, kitchenettes, a catering room and a convenience store. Outdoor recreation areas include sand volleyball and pickleball courts, surrounded by scenic green space. A newly constructed boardwalk connects the residence hall to the main campus.

A second phase of development — an academic center adjacent to the new residence hall — is in early planning stages, supported by the state Legislature and private donors, including the Ann and David Hicks family.

The university says expanding housing is part of a broader effort to meet student needs as enrollment continues to grow.

The university is sharing regular updates with students on their housing status as well as providing off-campus resources for those exploring alternative options.

UNF made the following statement to News4Jax:

All first-year students who applied for housing by the May deadline, as well as returning and transfer students who applied by the April deadline, have been admitted to housing and are now eligible to select their rooms.

Students who applied after these deadlines were accommodated as space allowed, and others have been placed on a standby list.

This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.