The University of Arizona, in partnership with Mortenson, Mortenson Development and Collegiate Housing Foundation, broke ground recently on The Catalina, a new on-campus dorm that will create a vibrant living-learning community for students beginning in fall 2028.
The new, nine-story $247 million dorm 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 mi. of campus or facing specific circumstances or hardships.
“Success for every student is our North Star, and the connection between living on campus and graduating on time is undeniable,” University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella said. “Our students who live on campus for at least one year have a 50 percent higher four-year graduation rate than those who never do. The Catalina is designed around that fact and what our Wildcats have told us they need.”
The groundbreaking milestone comes just seven months after the project moved from initial discussion to construction, reflecting a decisive, coordinated effort to address growing student housing needs while advancing the university's long-term vision for student success, belonging and academic achievement.
The Catalina is being delivered through a customized development strategy that brings together Mortenson's development, design, construction and financing expertise in support of the university's strategic imperatives and student experience objectives.
Mortenson facilitated a tax-exempt financing structure in partnership with Collegiate Housing Foundation, a not-for-profit charitable foundation, and RBC Capital Markets. This approach allows the university to expand its housing capacity while preserving financial flexibility and supporting a clear path to future ownership.
“Collegiate Housing Foundation is pleased to be able to work with Mortenson and RBC to assist the University of Arizona by financing, owning and operating a new on campus residence hall thereby making it the 73rd addition to CHF's portfolio since it began operations in 1996,” said Will Givhan, president of Collegiate Housing Foundation.
To help accelerate the schedule and support the university's goal of delivering the facility as quickly as possible, Mortenson Development bought the project site three months early, allowing demolition and site preparation activities to begin ahead of construction.
When complete, The Catalina will provide modern residential space designed to foster connection, belonging and academic achievement. Project completion is scheduled for fall 2028.
