University students from the UW will begin utilizing the new North Hall and Dining Centre this Friday.
University of Wyoming Unveils New Residence Halls and Dining Facilities
The University of Wyoming (UW) is set to welcome students to its newly constructed North Residence Hall and Dining Center on Aug. 15, marking the first new facilities for UW students in the last 60 years.
The $285.5 million project, the largest construction project ever on the UW campus, was completed by Denver-Based JE Dunn Construction. Funding for the project came from $205.8 million in bonds issued by the university, supplemented by about $80 million in legislative appropriations.
Modern Living Spaces in North and South Halls
North Hall, which has already opened, boasts 410 beds, while South Hall, still under construction, will offer 542 beds upon its Spring 2026 opening. Each room in the new halls features approximately 9.5-foot ceilings, a window with built-in blinds, and includes loft-style beds with extra-long twin mattresses, nightstands, desks & chairs, three-drawer dressers, and two separate closets per resident.
The halls also offer suite-style pods with single-use bathrooms, some with showers, providing more privacy and facilitating future renovations. Each room also has a vanity with a sink, mirror, and storage compartments, plus a shared trash can.
Both halls are equipped with air conditioning supplied via a cooling tower fed by the campus energy plant, including an energy-saving “Window Saver” feature that shuts off heating/cooling when windows are opened. The buildings use sandstone exteriors echoing a 100-year architectural model, aiming for durability and flexibility with steel framing rather than concrete walls typical in older halls.
Common spaces feature walls prepared for artwork by Wyoming artists, selected in collaboration with the Wyoming Arts Council. Laundry facilities are conveniently located on the first floor.
Diverse Dining Options at the Dining Center
The Dining Center in the new North Residence Hall is a two-story, state-of-the-art facility with nine food concept platforms. The facility supports both residents of North Hall and visitors, with modern food service technology and design.
The Dining Center offers a variety of dining options, including Pan Asian, Comfort, and Latin cuisine. A "sneak peek" event highlighted the dining experience, and pricing is roughly $12.99 per meal, with promotional offers for early users.
Vaishali Parag Chitnis, associate director of UW's Dining Services, states that the new dining experience aims to welcome not just students, but the entire campus and Laramie community. The Dining Center will also cater to a large audience including students, faculty, staff, and Laramie residents.
Enhancing the Student Residential Experience
The new halls and dining facilities are designed to strengthen UW’s living-learning communities and freshman interest groups to foster academic and social connections among residents with shared interests or majors. Kermit Brown, chairman of the UW Board of Trustees, states that the new halls provide a healthy and stimulating living environment.
Mathew Branson and Kunal Sinha, the executive chefs at the new Dining Center, lead a dedicated team of chefs and cooks. The new dining experience promises to be a significant enhancement to the student residential experience with contemporary living spaces, improved privacy, comfort, energy efficiency, and diversified dining options.
[1]: UW News Release: New Residence Halls Open for Students [2]: UW News Release: North Residence Hall Construction Update [3]: UW News Release: Dining Services Prepares for New Facilities [4]: UW News Release: Sneak Peek of New Dining Center
- Students at the University of Wyoming can now indulge in a vibrant lifestyle with the introduction of the new North Residence Hall, which not only offers modern dining options at the Dining Center but also features contemporary living spaces designed to stimulate academic and social connections.
- In addition to the comfortable rooms and suite-style pods, the North Residence Hall Dining Center boasts nine diverse food concept platforms, offering everything from Pan Asian to Latin cuisine, ensuring a host of educational and self-development opportunities through food-and-drink experiences for residents and the Laramie community.
