July 8, 2026
Media Advisory: U of A to break ground on the Catalina, dorm designed to foster first-year student success
- What: Groundbreaking ceremony for new on-campus student housing, the Catalina
- When: Tuesday, July 14, 9:15 a.m.; event begins at 9:30
- Where: Northeast corner of East Helen Street and North Campbell Avenue, Tucson
- Registration: The event is by invitation only. Media who would like to attend should RSVP to Kyle Mittan at 520-955-7514 or mittank@arizona.edu.
- Parking: Media may use parking spaces at the south end of Lot 2030, at the corner of Helen and Campbell.
TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona will break ground on a new dorm at the corner of East Speedway Boulevard and North Campbell Avenue on Tuesday, July 14.
The new, nine-story dorm, called the Catalina, will house more than 1,300 students and a dining hall and will align with student preferences for more suite-style units and access to programming and support services. The dorm will support the U of A's expectation that first-year students live on campus beginning in fall 2026, which will apply to first-time, full-time students, with exceptions for students living within 30 miles of campus or facing specific circumstances or hardships.
The dorm is being developed in partnership with Collegiate Housing Foundation and Mortenson Development. CHF is providing the financing and acquisition of the facility, with Mortenson leading the development, design and construction.
The development was approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in February.
Since 1988, first-year students living on campus have averaged 81% first-to-second-year retention, compared to 73% for those living off campus, according to University Analytics and Institutional Research data. UAIR also reports that students who live on campus for at least one year have a 50% higher four-year graduation rate than those who never live on campus. On-campus living provides students with extra layers of safety, including CatCard-controlled access to residence halls, University of Arizona Police Department presence, emergency blue light phones and late-night transportation services.
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella, Mortenson Vice President of Real Estate Development George Forristall, and Collegiate Housing Foundation CEO Will Givhan will participate along with other university leaders, project partners and community representatives.
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Media contact:
Kyle Mittan
University Communications
520-955-7514
mittank@arizona.edu
Established in 1885, the University of Arizona is the state's flagship, land-grant institution. The U of A ranks among America's top institutions, focusing on student access and success while driving a $1 billion research enterprise and engaging communities throughout the state, nation and world. As a leading Research 1 institution and member of the Association of American Universities, the U of A advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships. With two accredited medical schools, designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, recognition as a premier university for service members, distinguished programs in management information systems, planetary sciences, dance, photography, and public and applied humanities, the U of A offers the world to its students while uplifting Arizona.