Mortenson, University of Arizona Break Ground on 1,300-Bed Catalina Residence Hall With Collegiate Housing Foundation, RBC Capital Markets
TUCSON, Ariz. — July 14, 2026 — The University of Arizona, Mortenson, and Collegiate Housing Foundation broke ground Monday on The Catalina, a nine-story, on-campus residence hall designed to house more than 1,300 students in Tucson. The project, financed through a tax-exempt structure arranged with RBC Capital Markets, is scheduled to open in fall 2028.
The groundbreaking marks a significant expansion of on-campus housing capacity at the University of Arizona, arriving as the institution implements a new policy requiring first-time, full-time students to live on campus beginning fall 2026. Exceptions apply to students residing within 30 miles of campus or facing specific circumstances or hardships.
Project Details and Site
The Catalina will rise nine stories and will feature suite-style residential units, an in-hall dining facility, and embedded programming and support services intended to foster student connection and academic achievement.
The suite-style configuration reflects stated student preferences for greater privacy alongside shared community spaces.
Mortenson Development purchased the project site three months ahead of the originally planned schedule, enabling demolition and site preparation to begin before vertical construction commenced. The firm said the early acquisition was intended to accelerate delivery and support the university's timeline.
"This project demonstrates what is possible when a university and its development partners align around a shared goal and act with urgency," said George Forristall, Vice President of Real Estate Development at Mortenson. "We are proud to work alongside the University of Arizona and Collegiate Housing Foundation to deliver a customized solution that advances the university's housing strategy while creating a high-quality residential environment for students."
Financing Structure
The Catalina is being delivered through a tax-exempt financing structure in which Collegiate Housing Foundation will finance, own, and operate the residence hall. RBC Capital Markets participated in arranging the financing. Under this model, the university is able to expand its housing capacity while retaining a clear path to future ownership of the facility.
Collegiate Housing Foundation, a Fairhope, Alabama–based non-profit established in 1996 for the purpose of assisting colleges and universities in acquiring or developing student housing, will add The Catalina as its 73rd housing facility.
"Collegiate Housing Foundation is pleased to be able to work with Mortenson and RBC to assist the University of Arizona by financing, owning and operating a new on campus residence hall thereby making it the 73rd addition to CHF's portfolio since it began operations in 1996," said Will Givhan, President of Collegiate Housing Foundation.
University Strategy and Enrollment Context
University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella tied the project directly to student outcomes data. "Success for every student is our North Star, and the connection between living on campus and graduating on time is undeniable," Garimella said. "Our students who live on campus for at least one year have a 50% higher four-year graduation rate than those who never do. The Catalina is designed around that fact and what our Wildcats have told us they need."
The university's first-year on-campus housing expectation, which took effect in fall 2026, creates policy-driven demand for additional bed capacity.
The groundbreaking came approximately seven months after the project moved from initial discussion to construction, a compressed pre-development timeline for an asset of this scale. Mortenson said the accelerated schedule reflected a coordinated effort among all partners to address growing student housing needs.
About the Partners
Mortenson is a U.S.-based developer, builder, and engineering services provider. Mortenson Development, the firm's real estate development arm, draws on a national build-to-suit platform to partner with public and private stakeholders on complex projects. The University of Arizona, established in 1885, is Arizona's flagship land-grant institution and a member of the Association of American Universities. Collegiate Housing Foundation has operated since 1996 with a sole focus on assisting colleges and universities in acquiring or developing student housing facilities.