The new 80,000-square-foot student housing facility, located on the corner of Shaw and Cedar avenues, is four stories high and includes 228 apartment-style beds with one- to four-bedroom units, including a limited number of apartments for students with children. Photo courtesy of Fresno State
Fresno State and community leaders celebrated the ribbon-cutting for the long-awaited opening of the university’s first major student housing project since 1968 on Tuesday morning.
The 80,000-square-foot, four-story building at Shaw and Cedar avenues includes 228 beds in apartment-style, one- to four-bedroom units. A limited number of apartments are designated for students with children, with six student families among this year’s new residents.
Students will start moving into the new housing on Aug. 20.
“The opening of our first new student housing project in more than 50 years marks a transformational moment for the university and the students we serve,” Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval said.
The U-shaped building comes with a gym, recreation room and conference space. Amenities include kitchens and living areas, child-friendly flooring and furniture, an outdoor play structure, basketball court and fire pit area.
Construction started in 2025. Santa Ana-based architecture firm SVA designed the project, while Quiring served as construction manager and general contractor.
The roughly $54 million project was funded with $33.7 million in state affordable student housing grants and about $20 million in California State University systemwide revenue bonds.
The California State University, Fresno Association Inc. will be responsible for repaying the debt over the life of the bonds.
The CSU Board of Trustees approved the project’s schematic design in July 2023 and financing in November 2023.
The new building brings Fresno State Student Housing’s total capacity to 1,598 students across 10 buildings, including Baker, Birch, Cedar, Graves, Homan, Ponderosa, Sequoia, Sycamore and Aspen halls.
Erin Boele, director of Student Housing, said the project creates a supportive environment where students and their families can live and thrive together.
“This project has transformed Fresno State Student Housing by creating a welcoming, supportive place where students and their families can thrive together,” Boele said.