WKU's Southern Gateway, a 1,000-bed hall replacing two of its oldest dorms, is due to open in fall 2028. What the $350 million covers and what comes next.

Western Kentucky University has started building its biggest new residence hall in years. Work began Tuesday, Oct. 20, on The Southern Gateway, a complex of about 1,000 beds on the Hill.

It replaces Hugh Poland Hall and Douglas Keen Hall, two of WKU’s oldest residence halls, on the same site. Both buildings came down over the summer and early fall. The university expects the new hall to open in fall 2028.

WKU announced the groundbreaking as the first phase of Elevate WKU, a multi-year plan to rebuild and renovate student housing across campus.

What the $350 million covers

The university puts the investment at about $350 million. That figure is more than the new building. WKU said it includes:

  • construction of the new residence hall
  • paying off debt held by the Student Life Foundation, the nonprofit that has built and owned WKU’s residence halls since 1999
  • significant repairs and renovations to existing halls

The project is a public-private partnership with Gilbane, a national campus housing developer picked through a competitive request for proposals. WKU said it keeps oversight of priorities tied to students and academics, while Gilbane brings financing, development and construction. Mackey Mitchell Architects designed the building.

Aerial architect's rendering of a large red-brick residence hall with gray roofs, dormer windows and a white-columned entrance under a cupola, set among trees beside a curving road and parking lot.
Aerial rendering of The Southern Gateway. Rendering: Mackey Mitchell Architects, via Elevate WKU

What students will get

The hall will mix private and semi-private suite-style rooms. The Elevate WKU project page says the suites come with private bathrooms. According to the university, the building will also have:

  • lounges and shared spaces on each residential floor
  • community kitchens
  • a 24-hour study area
  • new dining options
  • a multipurpose classroom for WKU’s Living Learning Communities
  • updated key-access systems, ice machines and water bottle filling stations

“Today is an important milestone for WKU and for generations of Hilltoppers who will call this campus home,” WKU President Timothy C. Caboni said at the ceremony.

Students had a say

WKU said 16% of current students answered a campus-wide housing survey in fall 2025. It has also run housing and dining focus groups since early 2025. Residents will be asked for feedback through surveys each semester.

“Their input helped shape decisions about privacy, community spaces and affordability, and that input will continue to guide Elevate WKU,” Caboni said.

What comes next

The Southern Gateway is only phase one. WKU said later phases will cover more residence hall upgrades and new living-learning models. Some work is already done: Southwest Hall was renovated this summer with new furniture, paint, flooring and bathroom vanities, according to the project page.

The university has not published a cost, room rate or timeline for the later phases.

What it means for you

  • Families of future students: the new hall is due in fall 2028. The architect’s statement on the project page describes it as a “launch pad” for first-year students, so students starting that fall would be among the first residents. WKU has not yet said what rooms will cost.
  • Neighbors and drivers on campus: expect a construction site where Poland and Keen Halls stood for the next two years. Check our road construction and closures page for street changes.
  • See it: renderings, floor plans and a flythrough video are on the Elevate WKU media page.
  • Questions: WKU Media Relations is at 270-745-4295.