MOSCOW, Idaho – The University of Idaho is set to receive over $160 million for a major housing renovation and replacement project. This funding comes as welcome news for students in the midst of a housing crisis.
The university has been leasing a local motel to accommodate students due to increased undergraduate enrollment. The incoming freshman class is more than 40% larger than five years ago, and nearly all freshmen are required to live on campus during their first year.
The renovation plan includes updating 1,400 student beds and constructing two new housing sets on Moscow’s South Hill. This will add 150 beds for married and parenting students and 251 new student beds. These new accommodations will replace 431 beds set for demolition, as the existing buildings from the 1970s have exceeded their lifespan.
“These were modular Boise Cascade units built to a typical 25-30 year residential standard,” said Brian Foisy, Vice President for the Division of Finance. “I spoke to our campus architects the other day and he indicated that he always hoped we could perhaps squeeze 50 years of life out of those facilities, I think the technical term he used was ‘eek.'”
The approval allows the university to begin construction immediately, with the new apartments expected to open for the fall semester in 2026.
The university’s future housing plans include developing a new residence hall for undergraduates to address overcrowding and anticipate growth. Phase two of the project will include building market-rate housing for staff members.
The focus on family and parental housing aligns with the university’s goal to achieve R-1 research university status, making it the first in the state. This status would help attract high-quality graduate students, which the university believes the new housing will support.
