TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – The University of Arizona broke ground Tuesday, July 14, on the Catalina, a nine-story apartment-style dormitory near Speedway Boulevard and Campbell Avenue, replacing a cluster of smaller residential buildings that previously occupied the site.
The new facility is designed to give incoming freshmen an additional on-campus housing option that includes private bathrooms and shared gathering spaces — amenities students have said they want.
Retention data drives the project
University research shows 81% of freshmen who live on campus return for a second year, compared to 73% who live off campus. The Catalina is intended to draw more first-year students into university housing and build a sense of community.
The building will also include an in-hall dining facility. Amanda Kraus, vice president for student affairs, said the dining space is meant to serve as more than a meal location…