The University of Idaho has the initial go-ahead to expand and refurbish on-campus housing.
The long-term goal is to add 150 beds at the U of I, which requires its first-year students to live on campus. Currently, the U of I has 2,275 beds — including 200 beds at a leased motel off campus.
The State Board of Education last week approved spending $12 million on a planning and design phase for several projects:
- Deferred maintenance and a refresh of existing residence halls.
- Repurposing the South Hill facility for married students, so it can also accommodate graduate students.
- New on-campus undergraduate apartments.
- Expanded dining facilities to serve the additional students living on campus.
All of the work could cost $195 million over three years.
In a presentation last week, the U of I urged the State Board to move quickly on the projects. Any delays could drive up construction costs, and leave the U of I scrambling to secure construction workers, as Micron begins a new chip plant in Boise and Meta begins a data center near Kuna.
The U of I is expected to bring a financing plan to the State Board at its October meeting.
