TAMUT building housing to keep up with enrollment

TEXARKANA, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) – Texas A&M University Texarkana (TAMUT) is in the process of bringing a large new student housing development to campus.

“Phase one are container homes. They’re shipping containers fitted to be housing units. Phase 2 will be a 2-story kind of apartment-style complex that can accommodate up to 8 students per building,” says TAMUT President Ross Alexander.

The development, known as Eagle Landing, is designed to address the rising enrollment.

“We are getting so much newfound interest from high-achieving students throughout our region that we need more on-campus living options,” says Alexander.

Five total phases are planned as part of the goal to attract students from a wider area and then position them for success.

“The longer students live on campus, the more engaged they are on campus. That also produces higher rates of retention and higher graduation rates,” says Alexander.

The university says the different designs are meant to supplement their traditional dorms, which are geared more toward freshmen.

“Eagle Landing all phases are geared towards students who are a little bit older because it’s a bit removed from the core of campus, but still very walkable,” says Alexander.

It is also a better value for the university than the traditional options.

“A traditional residence hall of 600 or 700 beds, that would probably cost $120 or $130 million. All five phases of Eagle Landing, which again we hope to have up to 700 beds, will cost the university about $30 to $35 million. So it’s very cost-effective and delivered much more quickly,” says Alexander.

The first two phases of the Eagle Landing project are expected to be ready this summer.