WKU News

The Western Kentucky University Board of Regents today (December 11) approved a pre-development agreement partnership with Gilbane, launching the first phase of a bold, multi-year initiative to transform student housing on the Hill. The partnership marks a significant milestone in WKU’s push to enhance campus life, modernize and replace its residential facilities and ensure that every Hilltopper has access to affordable, high-quality, student-centered living environments.

Under the partnership, WKU and Gilbane will continue detailed design and planning work through the coming months while negotiating final partnership terms. Renderings and additional project updates will be shared during the Spring 2026 semester. The project is expected to return to the Board for final approval and financial close in late Spring or early Summer 2026, with construction on the first new residence hall to begin soon thereafter.

Replacing Aging Facilities with Modern, Student-Centered Living Spaces

Phase 1 of the plan focuses on replacing Hugh Poland and Douglas Keen Halls, two of WKU’s oldest residence halls that have served generations of Hilltoppers. These facilities will be replaced with a new, roughly 1,000-bed residential complex on the same site. The new hall will feature a variety of room configurations—including private and semi-private suites—paired with community kitchens, collaborative lounges and study spaces designed to promote student interaction and engagement and support significant expansion of WKU’s Living Learning Communities. The design will also incorporate modern safety and accessibility features, energy-efficient systems and technology-enabled learning environments. The facility is expected to open in Fall 2028.

Phase 1 of the project marks the beginning of a multi-year master plan to enhance every aspect of housing at WKU and represents an investment of more than $300 million, including construction of the new hall, defeasance of Student Life Foundation debt and repairs and renovations to existing facilities. Future phases will address renovations of existing halls, explore new living-learning models and increasingly align residential design with WKU’s academic mission.

Strengthening Community Through Purposeful Design

WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said the initiative demonstrates the university’s long-standing commitment to providing an affordable, enriching residential experience.

“For many of our Hilltoppers, living on campus is an essential part of the WKU experience,” Caboni said. “As we transform our housing portfolio, we remain committed to keeping rates competitive while offering students more choices, greater comfort and environments that promote academic and personal growth. This project represents a major step toward that vision.”

Caboni noted that the decision to begin with the Keen-Poland site is strategic, targeting some of the university’s most dated housing offerings while making visible progress toward the long-term modernization of all residence halls.

Vice President for Student Experience and Dean of Students Martha Sales emphasized that housing plays a critical role in student success. “Students tell us that where they live profoundly affects their sense of belonging, connection and purpose,” Sales said. “The design of this new facility will encourage community-building, collaboration and wellness—three pillars that are central to the WKU student experience.”

Board Leadership and Long-Term Vision

Board of Regents Chair Jan West praised the project as an example of careful financial stewardship paired with forward-looking vision.

“Today’s vote signals our commitment to the long-term vitality of campus life at WKU,” West said. “By investing strategically and partnering with experienced professionals like Gilbane, we are ensuring that future generations of Hilltoppers have affordable, high-quality places to live, learn and thrive.”

West added that the housing transformation aligns with the university’s strategic plan, Climbing to Greater Heights, which prioritizes the student experience as a cornerstone of institutional success.

A Legacy of Partnership: The Student Life Foundation

Since 1999, WKU’s residence halls have been constructed, owned and operated by the WKU Student Life Foundation (SLF), a nonprofit organization created to address urgent housing needs at a time when the university faced aging facilities and limited state funding.

The SLF was designed to function as a self-supporting entity, using revenue from housing fees to finance major renovation and construction projects. Through this structure, the Foundation helped WKU increase its housing inventory, adding new facilities and renovating others.

The SLF became an integral part of WKU’s campus infrastructure, providing flexibility and financial agility during a period of rapid enrollment growth. However, as the university looked toward the future, leadership determined that the next generation of housing would be best advanced through increased university oversight and the innovative tools available through a public-private partnership.

“For more than two decades, the Student Life Foundation has been a valued partner to WKU,” Caboni said. “Recently, the Foundation has navigated an increasingly complex and challenging housing landscape, and we no longer feel as though that structure best positions us to meet our students’ residential expectations. We are deeply appreciative of the SLF’s commitment and collaboration through the years, and we are excited about the national expertise Gilbane will bring to campus as we partner together to reimagine and elevate the Hilltopper experience.”

As part of this transition, the SLF is working closely with WKU to transfer housing assets to the university and wind down its operations in a structured and transparent process. This ensures a seamless handoff that honors the SLF’s historic role while positioning the university for long-term success.

About Gilbane

Founded in 1870, Gilbane is a family-owned firm headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Gilbane specializes in real estate development, construction and property management, with an extensive track record in higher education housing and campus infrastructure projects across the nation.

During the past several decades, Gilbane has partnered with universities including Clemson, Brown and the University of Maryland, developing and building more than 55,000 student housing beds across more than 100 campuses nationwide. The company is known for its ability to integrate design, finance and long-term operations to create student-focused communities that balance affordability with quality and sustainability.

“Gilbane is delighted to be partnering with WKU on plans to modernize campus living on The Hill. As national leaders in the development and construction of student living and health-and-wellness spaces, Gilbane is positioned to ensure this large project on the Bowling Green campus is well planned, advantageously financed, highly sustainable, and, ultimately, delivered as promised,” said Geoff Eisenacher, Vice President of Gilbane Development.  

Gilbane’s proposal was selected through a competitive RFP process earlier this year for its innovative approach to life-cycle cost management, sustainability and its demonstrated success in delivering housing projects that foster academic and social growth.

The Value of a P3: Innovation Through Collaboration

The housing transformation will be structured as a public-private partnership (P3)—a model that has become increasingly common in higher education as universities seek to modernize infrastructure while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Under a P3 arrangement, the university collaborates with a private developer that assumes responsibility for financing, design and construction, while the institution retains control over key mission-focused academic and student experience priorities. This structure enables a more efficient project delivery, leverages private capital and reduces the university’s risk and financial burden.

For WKU, the P3 approach ensures that new facilities can be developed without relying solely on public funds, allowing the university to address housing needs more quickly while continuing to prioritize affordability for students. Nationwide, institutions such as Purdue, the Ohio State University and Arizona State have successfully used P3s to renew and expand campus housing portfolios—making them an increasingly proven and sustainable strategy.

“P3s are transforming how universities approach housing,” Caboni said. “By partnering with a firm that brings national expertise, we’re able to deliver innovative, student-centered living environments while protecting financial stability for years to come.”

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jace Lux
Director of Media Relations and University Spokesperson
Western Kentucky University
jace.lux@wku.edu | (270) 745-4295

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Western Kentucky University prides itself on positioning its students, faculty and staff for long term success. As a student-centered, applied research university, WKU helps students expand on classroom learning by integrating education with real-world applications in the communities we serve. Our hilltop campus is located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which was recently named by Reader’s Digest as one of the nicest towns in America, just an hour’s drive from Nashville, Tennessee.