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The University of Georgia is sustaining its considerable investment in campus infrastructure with numerous significant capital initiatives currently in progress. Aimed at improving the educational atmosphere, student engagement, and overall health, these endeavors demonstrate the university’s persistent dedication to delivering a premier experience for its students.
West Campus Dining, Learning, and Well-being Center
Situated adjacent to Legion Field, the upcoming West Campus Dining, Learning, and Well-being Center is set to open by fall 2026. Encompassing 68,000 square feet, this facility aims to consolidate dining options, classroom learning, and student wellness services in a single location, offering comprehensive support right in the heart of the campus. Beyond daytime educational activities, classroom spaces will be accessible to student organizations for meetings and events during evenings.
The three-story structure is crafted to optimize functionality and accessibility. The first level will comprise a satellite wellness center managed by the University Health Center, featuring private consultation rooms for both medical and mental health services. Adjacent to the wellness center will be a Nutrition Kitchen, co-managed by UGA Dining Services and the Fontaine Center, which will provide experiential learning in nutrition and culinary skills.
This floor will also host several active-learning classrooms (comprising two rooms with 24 seats each, two rooms with 48 seats each, and one room with 75 seats), along with six small meeting rooms, facilitating versatile spaces for instruction, co-curricular activities, and student programming.
The second and third floors will showcase a cutting-edge dining commons with panoramic treetop views overlooking Legion Field. Numerous new recipes will be introduced in this dining hall, emphasizing diversity, quality, and nutrition.
Additional features will include sheltered outdoor seating and bicycle racks, along with an outdoor classroom.
New first-year residence hall
Positioned directly across from the Founders Memorial Garden on Lumpkin Street, a new residence hall for first-year students is currently under construction. Anticipated to open in fall 2026, the facility, exceeding 125,000 square feet, is designed to accommodate roughly 566 students and meet the growing need for on-campus housing.
The building will offer double-occupancy rooms with adaptable furniture arrangements and individualized climate control. Each wing will feature community bathrooms with enhanced privacy, as well as study rooms, lounges, laundry amenities, and a shared kitchen. The hall will also become the new base for the Launch Pad, UGA’s entrepreneurial living and learning community currently located in Creswell Hall.
With contemporary amenities, well-planned communal spaces, and close proximity to academic and dining facilities, the residence hall is designed to promote a strong sense of community and enhance student involvement and achievement.
Science and Ag Hill Modernization
Following the successful conclusion of Phase I in 2024, the university is progressing with its Science and Ag Hill Modernization project through Phases II and III. These initiatives are concentrating on expanding research capabilities and establishing interdisciplinary educational settings to foster scientific progress.
Phase II focuses on the renovation of a wing of the Cedar Street Building B, previously known as the Biological Sciences Building. Set for completion by spring 2026, the revamped facility will accommodate the Department of Environmental Health Sciences alongside select research teams from the Odum School of Ecology and the departments of genetics, cellular biology, microbiology, entomology, and crop and soil sciences.
Phase III, which is currently in progress, is scheduled to open in January 2027 in Cedar Street Building A. This phase encompasses the creation of a new instructional center in the southern wing of the former Poultry Sciences Building, while the northern wing will provide space for the Institute of Integrated Precision Agriculture. Collectively, these upgrades will enhance interdisciplinary teaching and research across essential scientific domains.
By modernizing these facilities, UGA is enhancing laboratory and educational environments, encouraging collaboration across academic fields, and supporting ongoing growth in STEM education and research.
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