A creative series of chain reaction ribbon-cuttings yesterday connected key areas of the multi-purpose Honors Village at the University of Arizona to commemorate the new living-learning student community.

Located in the North District of one of UArizona's four residential districts, the Honors Village is a six-story modern residential tower that provides suite and semi-suite units for more than 1,000 Honors College students. The 341,292-square-foot complex was developed by American Campus Communities and provides on-site honors classrooms, collaboration spaces, and offices for faculty and staff. Thr Honors Village will also include a recreation and wellness center, incorporating a Campus Health Counseling and Psych Services neighboring building, a 370-space parking structure, and off-site improvements to the surrounding streets, sidewalks and landscaping.

“By partnering with American Campus Communities, the University of Arizona was able to apply creative solutions to develop a living-learning community that is an immersive honors college experience for our students,” said the UArizona President Robert C. Robbins. “ACC’s expertise and knowledge, combined with our commitment to academic success, are demonstrated through this collaboration that we hope will further contribute to students’ skills, academic journey and personal achievements in tomorrow's careers.”

A LEED® Certified Silver designation is being pursued for the Honors Village, which was designed by STG Design. This new residential community offers first-time and returning honors students a total of 1,056 on-campus beds in suites and in semi-suites.

“The Honors Village provides the essential resources and community atmosphere to keep up with the demands and needs of talented honors students at the University of Arizona while offering price points comparable to the market,” said American Campus Communities CEO Bill Bayless. “We look forward to continuing our long-term partnership efforts with the University of Arizona to offer quality purpose-built communities that fuel student academic and personal achievement."

On-site amenities include indoor recreation rooms, an interior courtyard, student lounges, a community kitchen and in-dorm dining at UArizona’s newest eatery, ‘85 North. All amenities, including the dining facility’s first floor, are open to all students, faculty and staff.

"This project has revitalized the northern edge of the University of Arizona campus and has helped pay for improvements to city infrastructure, creating a win for the university, the city and the neighborhood," said Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild. 

To be a resident at the Honors Village, students must apply and be admitted to the Honors College by first completing the University of Arizona admissions application. First-year, full-time freshmen who entered the Honors College this fall posted increases in academic quality metrics, with a core average GPA of 3.89, and average SAT and ACT scores of 1409 and 31, respectively.

“Living in Honors Village gives me the opportunity to belong to a strong and supportive community,” said Chris Brown, an Honors junior with a world-leading management information systems major. “Between my extra curricular activities, class time and work, the amazing amenities and learning spaces, Honors Village makes it easy to help me be my best self and to prioritize studying.”

This is the first public-private development partnership for UArizona with American Campus Communities. The transaction for the Honors Village residential tower was structured under the American Campus Equity (ACE)® program, a public-private partnership that provides on-campus housing to universities without using school funds or tax-payer dollars. Universities are able to expand and modernize their student housing portfolios without using their financial resources while allowing ACC to offer affordable rents to residents by delivering high-quality student housing with lower development costs and operating expenses.