Palm Beach Atlantic and Gilbane celebrate groundbreaking of new campus residential hall

Second Major Project Under the God-Sized Dreams Campaign Expands Student Life Experience

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (October 10, 2025) – Palm Beach Atlantic University and Gilbane Wednesday broke ground on a future residence hall that will provide a home for close to 1,000 students. Among PBA’s leadership, board members and student leaders, guests celebrated the university’s growing population with a groundbreaking ceremony for a state-of the art, 25-story residence hall to be located at 1200 S. Dixie Highway.

The new residence structure is made possible through a strategic partnership with Gilbane, which will develop the project and oversee design, construction and financing. CUBE 3 is serving as the lead architect, with JP Morgan as the underwriter and Provident Group as the conduit borrower. Urban planning support is being provided by Joni Brinkman of Urban Design Studio.

The project is the second major construction under PBA’s God-Sized Dreams (GSD) Campaign and is part of PBA’s strategic master plan to enhance the student experience and strengthen the University’s role in the heart of West Palm Beach.

The afternoon ceremony showcased renderings of the hall and moving performances by PBA’s choir. Student testimonies and remarks from university leadership and building designers highlighted the event.

“We are here to celebrate what will be the largest residence hall project in Palm Beach Atlantic’s history,” said PBA President, Dr. Debra Schwinn. “This new facility isn’t just about adding beds or building taller structures, it is about creating a community for this generation of students. We know from research—and from decades of experience here at PBA—that students who live on campus are more likely to graduate on time and form lifelong friendships. Living on campus creates accountability, support and discipleship. It is where students grow into who God is calling them to be.”

The new residence hall will feature 990 student beds across 275 units, offering two, three and four-bed options. Other amenities to be featured include:

• 11 student union spaces for collaboration and community.
• 28,000-square-feet of dining space, including an outdoor plaza with seating for 150, offering a variety of culinary experiences.
• 13,000-square-feet of dedicated fitness space, featuring modern equipment, group fitness studios and even a golf simulator.

Adjoining the residence hall will be a parking garage offering eight and one-half floors of parking for students and visitors. The added housing is prompted after several record-breaking years of enrolment. Foundational work began on the site in the summer, and the project is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2027.

“We’re proud to break ground on Palm Beach Atlantic University’s visionary new residence hall, with state-of-the-art apartments, dining, recreation and parking,” said James Patchett, President and CEO of Gilbane Development. “PBA’s forward-thinking approach will significantly enhance student life and also strengthen housing availability throughout West Palm Beach. At Gilbane, we help institutions like PBA with innovative solutions to solve their most pressing challenges and achieve their real estate goals.”

“Our team is honored to break ground on this transformative new residence hall that reflects the university’s commitment to enriching student life,” said Jason Sizemore, South Florida Business Leader for Gilbane Building. “Together with Gilbane Development, Cube3, and our trade partners, we’re proud to bring Palm Beach Atlantic University’s vision to life through Gilbane’s integrated design-build expertise.”

To date, the university has reached $78 million in Phase One of its GSD Campaign to fund a new Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall.

“We are grateful for the thousands of donors—community leaders, alumni, parents, faculty and staff, who have linked arms together and provided financial support for PBA to live out our mission, “to equip students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly,” said Laura Bishop, Executive Vice President of Advancement.

About Palm Beach Atlantic University

Palm Beach Atlantic University, founded in 1968, is a private, Christian university, offering 100 different programs and pathways, including undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees and professional degrees. The university has two campuses in West Palm Beach, Florida—19 acres downtown and a 76-acre Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus provides facilities for training and hosting intercollegiate sports. Sailfish athletes compete in 18 NCAA Division II and Sunshine State Conference varsity sports. PBA affirms the values that have built American society, including religious liberty and the free enterprise system and is dedicated to equipping students to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction and serve God boldly. For more information about PBA’s expansion, please visit pba.edu.

About Gilbane

Gilbane, Inc., a private holding company with a more than 155-year history, is one of the oldest and largest family-owned construction, investment, and real estate development firms in the world. Gilbane Development is the project development, financing, and ownership arm of Gilbane, providing a full slate of real estate development and property management services. Gilbane Building is a full-service construction services firm providing preconstruction, general contracting, construction management, and design-build services on some of the nation’s most complex projects.  Gilbane’s Public Private Partnership Group has delivered or has underway more than $4.4 billion in P3 projects for healthcare, higher education, K-12 schools, and federal/state/municipal clients. To learn more, visit gilbaneco.com.  

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For PBA:
Slatkow & Husak Public Relations
Lauren Eissey
561-278-0850; Lauren@SlatkowHusak.com

Jodi Brown Lindo
561-803-2064; Jodi_Brownlindo@pba.edu

For Gilbane:
Stephanie Handfield
Gilbane Development
401-456-5456; shandfield@gilbaneco.com

Melissa Grace
Rubenstein Communications
917-842-6878; mgrace@rubenstein.com