Vanderbilt announced a new phase of residential colleges at 9 a.m. CDT today. The four new colleges will be completed by 2028-29 school year, with construction potentially starting summer of 2025, starting with the demolition of Branscomb Quadrangle, McTyeire Hall and the University Club — all located in the Central Neighborhood of campus.
The university announced that the new residential colleges will house roughly 1,300 students, while Branscomb and McTyeire currently house approximately 777 students combined. Current plans state that each building will feature various room options, including single rooms and suites, mixed-use spaces and green spaces to “promote sustainable living.” The plan is currently subject to board approval and has not been finalized as of publication.
In a press release, administrators applauded the upcoming Central Neighborhood project, which continues Vanderbilt’s mission for residential colleges that impact the student experience.
“Our vision for the Central Neighborhood reflects Vanderbilt’s commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and intellectual growth,” Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Tiffiny Tung said in the announcement. “By creating spaces that integrate living, learning and community engagement, we are continuing to enhance the student experience in ways that prepare students to thrive at Vanderbilt and beyond.”
The Central Neighborhood construction will adhere to the goals of the FutureVU initiative underway on Vanderbilt’s campus, including incorporating “sustainability and accessibility” in the new buildings. According to the announcement, in May 2025, the university will start upgrading the cool and hot water lines and burying overhead utilities as part of these sustainability goals and to prepare for the upcoming residential colleges.
The university recently finished its residential college project in the West End Neighborhood with the opening of Oliver C. Carmichael Residential College in August. The four new buildings in the Central Neighborhood will bring Vanderbilt’s total number of residential colleges on main campus to 10 (E. Bronson Ingram, Nicholas S. Zeppos, Rothschild, Warren, Moore and Carmichael colleges) and 20 in total with Martha Rivers Ingram Commons halls.
Current Branscomb resident and sophomore Jake Owens expressed concern about the potential housing shortage that the project may create on campus.
“I honestly do not think Branscomb is all that bad — it is a solid living space,” Owens said. “My main worry with [the project] is that I’m not sure where all the sophomores are going to go instead. It seems like this is a whole lot of housing that will be gone before new housing has been put in place.”
Senior Lily Baker said she enjoyed living in Branscomb and she looks forward to the new residential colleges. However, she said she worries about the future of housing on campus in the wake of construction.
“Overall, I loved my time living in Branscomb and am definitely sad to see it go. However, I do think that [the] building is in need of a refresh, so I look forward to seeing the construction plans,” Baker said. “I do worry about Vanderbilt’s plan for housing that many students for the next several years. They definitely need to come up with a plan for that, in conversation with students, before they move any further with these construction conversations.”
With the demolition of Branscomb and McTyeire, there will be about 5,000 beds on campus for an undergraduate population of over 7,000.
