From residence halls and dining commons to research labs and campus landscapes, the University of Georgia continues to invest in spaces that support learning, living and community engagement. This fall, several new buildings open their doors while other capital projects move closer to completion.
Dining, Learning, and Well-being Center
The Dining, Learning, and Well-being Center officially opened this fall following its Aug. 6 dedication ceremony. Located at East Cloverhurst Avenue and University Court, the three-story building brings together dining, academics, health and well-being in a first-of-its-kind space for the university.
The first floor houses active learning classrooms, collaborative study rooms and a well-being center offering medical care, well-being coaching and mental health support. Hillside Dining Commons occupies the second and third floors and is expected to serve between 8,000 and 10,000 customers daily.
The building also features a nutrition kitchen where students can take cooking classes, learn new recipes and explore the relationships between food, health and well-being. Designed to support hands-on learning through partnerships across the university, the space builds on UGA’s longstanding commitment to experiential learning.
First-Year Student Residence Hall, Building 2266
Also dedicated Aug. 6, the new First-Year Student Residence Hall, Building 2266, opened its doors this fall semester. Located at the corner of South Lumpkin Street and West Wray Street, the six-and-a-half-story building houses 565 students in double-occupancy rooms that include modular furniture, large windows and individual temperature controls. Residents have access to shared study lounges, gathering spaces, privacy-enhanced community bathrooms and an outdoor courtyard.
Building 2266 is also the new home of Launch Pad, an entrepreneurial living-learning community previously located in Creswell Hall.
School of Medicine
Construction continues on the School of Medicine building at the Health Sciences Campus, where work remains on schedule for dedication in December 2026.
Following the topping-out ceremony last November, the building has taken shape both inside and out. The exterior is nearing completion, while classrooms; simulation, clinical skills and anatomy centers; research laboratories; and collaborative student spaces continue to come together across all three floors. Major mechanical systems have been installed and are now undergoing testing as the project enters its final phases.
In the months ahead, crews will focus on interior finishes, flooring, signage and landscaping. Careful planning and phased construction have helped keep the work on its accelerated schedule.
Science and Ag Hill modernization
Phase II of the Science and Ag Hill Modernization project was completed in April 2026. Departments began moving into the renovated space in May, with occupancy continuing through August. The project transformed a wing of Cedar Street Building B, formerly known as the Biological Sciences Building, creating modern learning and research spaces for students, faculty and staff.
Construction continues on Phase III — Cedar Street Building A — which is expected to open in spring 2027. The north wing will include offices for faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers with the Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. It will also include space for several interdisciplinary laboratories.
The south wing will feature active learning classrooms ranging from 28 to 72 seats, along with study rooms and shared collaboration spaces. The layout is designed to support group work, hands-on learning and collaboration among students, faculty and researchers.
New recreation facilities
The university is nearing completion of the Legion Field redevelopment project, which will further expand student recreation opportunities in the heart of campus.
When the project is complete, Legion Field will feature four sand volleyball courts, complementing the expanded lawn near first-year residence halls and student activity hubs. The new space will provide enhanced recreation and fellowship opportunities that can be enjoyed for free throughout the year.
The 2026 Homecoming Concert, headlined by Penelope Road on Sept. 29, will be one of the first events held at Legion Field.
This fall, the university also expects to open approximately 10,000 square feet of new strength and conditioning space on the first floor of the Ramsey Student Center.
Strength and Conditioning III, or S&C III for short, will expand the Ramsey Center’s strength and conditioning footprint from approximately 20,000 to 30,000 square feet.
State Botanical Garden entrance project
Visitors to the State Botanical Garden of Georgia will see continued progress on a new entrance and parking project. The project relocates the main entrance along South Milledge Avenue to improve safety and accessibility.
Current work includes drainage improvements and landscaped rain gardens that will help collect and manage stormwater. The expanded parking area will have new short trails to connect to the garden’s existing trail system.
Crews have also repurposed soil removed during construction to create other landscape features, reducing construction waste and environmental impacts while helping preserve the garden’s scenic character. Construction of the new entrance is expected to be completed in late 2026.
To ease traffic around the Botanical Garden, the university is planning to construct a single-lane traffic roundabout at the entrance along South Milledge Avenue.
This will be one of two new single-lane roundabouts in the area. The other roundabout is planned to align with access drives serving the new UGA Track and Field Complex and the Jack Turner Family Complex.
College Station Road improvements
UGA continues to partner with Athens-Clarke County on improvements to College Station Road, including recently upgraded traffic lights at the intersection with River Road, across from the UGA Intramural Fields.