As student enrollment surges and housing supply lags, universities across the U.S. are facing a critical challenge: how to provide safe, affordable, and modern housing that supports student success. At Gilbane, we’re meeting this moment with a dual strategy—leveraging purpose-built student housing (PBSH) and public-private partnerships (P3) to deliver scalable, future-ready communities.
Purpose-Built Student Housing: Designed for Student Success
PBSH is more than just beds—it’s about creating environments where students can thrive. Gilbane’s communities are tailored to student life, with wellness-focused amenities, academic support spaces, and prime locations. Through our partnership with CBRE Investment Management, we’re expanding PBSH in top-tier university markets, aligning institutional capital with student-centered design.
Public-Private Partnerships: Unlocking Campus Potential
Our Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBFOM) model empowers universities to expand and “right size” housing without shouldering the full financial burden. These partnerships modernize infrastructure, align with institutional goals, and deliver long-term value. With over 55,000 beds developed and built, Gilbane brings deep expertise in structuring P3s that enhance the student experience and campus vitality.
Case Study Highlights
- Pique (UC Berkeley, CA): 484 beds in a high-demand market, opening 2026.
- The Hive (Iowa City, IA): 500+ beds with wellness and sustainability at the core.
- MXWL (Lexington, KY): 656-bed luxury-style housing for University of Kentucky students.
- Trace (Purdue Fort Wayne, IN): 600-bed P3 project using DBOM model, opening 2026.
- EMU (Ypsilanti, MI): $200M transformation with 700 new beds and 2,025 modernized.
- Vibe (Orlando, FL): 763-bed vibrant community near UCF, opening 2026.
- URI (Kingston, RI): 1,134 new beds in planning to meet rising demand.
- University of Idaho (Moscow, ID): $162.8M redevelopment adding 2,500+ beds.
Developing Dynamic Communities
We’re not just developing places to live—we’re creating communities that support academic achievement, mental wellness, and social connection. Through partnerships like the Hi, How Are You Project, we integrate mental health awareness into our housing design and programming.
Beyond benefiting students, these student communities also strengthen local economies, increase foot traffic for small businesses, and contribute to broader neighborhood revitalization efforts. By integrating wellness-driven design with our commitment to student success, we ensure that these communities serve as more than just living spaces—they become hubs for growth, inclusivity, and holistic well-being.
By combining PBSH innovation with P3 partnerships, Gilbane creates student housing solutions that are financially sustainable, institutionally aligned, and designed for long-term success. Whether through direct investment, development expertise, or long-term operational commitment, we ensure that our student communities thrive today and remain impactful for generations to come.
