The wait is over – the University of Wyoming’s new North Residence Hall, along with its state-of-the-art, two-story Dining Center, opened for students on August 15, during UW’s annual “Saddle Up,” a week-long program for first-year and transfer students to get a jumpstart on their college experience.
The $285.5 million project – the largest construction project ever on the UW campus – also will include South Hall, which is still under construction, but will be ready for students during the second semester of 2026. These new facilities are the first new residence halls for UW students in 60 years.
Construction began in November 2022, with JE Dunn Construction chosen as the general contractor. North Hall has 410 beds, and South Hall will have 542 beds.
“The addition of the new dormitories and Dining Center makes UW an even more wonderful place for Wyoming students to further their education,” said Kermit C. Brown, Chairman of the University of Wyoming Board of Trustees. “They provide a healthy and stimulating living environment conducive to success at the college level. I look forward to seeing the many ways our students will benefit from these improvements.”
The impetus for the project is largely about the quality of student life, Brown said. The new halls are designed to better foster UW’s robust Freshman Interest Groups and Living-Learning Communities, where students share classes and activities with their residence hall neighbors who share similar interests and majors. The five- and six-story halls offer single-use bathrooms and a variety of room types, including doubles, singles, semi-suites with a private bath, and semi-suites with a shared bath. The new halls are centrally located next to the Wyoming Union and Half Acre Recreation and Wellness Center.
The buildings total more than 300,000 square feet: North Hall is 183,029 square feet, including a 71,258-square-foot dining hall on the main and mezzanine levels; South Hall is 123,853 square feet. The architect, alm2s, partnered with Plan One of Cheyenne, and Mackey Mitchell Architects of St. Louis on the design.
“It’s been a great experience partnering with the University of Wyoming and alm2s on this important addition to campus life,” said Will Peterson, JE Dunn Project Director. “Watching student excitement build over the last couple of years has been really rewarding, and we’re proud to deliver a space designed for students to live, dine, and connect. We’re excited to stay on campus as we move toward completing the South Hall for the Spring semester.”
The two-story Dining Hall, with nine serving stations that will cater to a large audience including students, faculty, staff, and Laramie residents, should become a hub for campus life.
“We want to welcome not just our new students, but all of campus and Laramie to what we think is going to be a wonderful dining experience,” said Vaishali Parag Chitnis, Associate Director for UW’s Dining Services. “Our new stations feature state-of-the-art equipment, and our executive chefs, Mathew Branson and Kunal Sinha, are extremely creative and talented and lead a dedicated team of chefs and cooks.”
