The University of North Florida’s year-old dorm, Osprey Ridge, is undergoing renovations to add a concrete pathway that will give residents a new outdoor gathering space and connect the dorm to a future Honors Academic building, according to UNF Construction, Design and Planning director Christopher Wainwright.  

The design for the project features multiple outdoor gathering spaces, including swinging benches, hammocks, picnic benches and tables. The project will also include landscaping, with trees and other greenery surrounding the spaces and providing residents with additional privacy. 

Residents will be able to step outside their dorm rooms and walk to the west side of the building where they can use the new spaces to sit, relax, and hang out while surrounded by nature. The project is designed to preserve the surrounding natural space and does not cross into the wetlands, Wainwright said.

“We respect the wetlands,” said Wainwright. 

Construction began in mid-September and is currently scheduled to end Jan. 4, just before residents return for spring semester classes, Wainwright said. Remaining funds from the original construction of Osprey Ridge helped bring this project to life, with a total investment of $1.5 million.

Residents’ comments and concerns

Osprey Ridge residents in the West Tower have expressed a range of reactions to the construction. 

Some have said the construction produces disruptive noises, such as rumbling and consistent beeping. They have also described their rooms shaking while machinery is operating. 

Others have expressed excitement about this new addition to their residence hall and said they do not mind the distractions. 

“Did anybody even ask for this?” said Ella Koné, a resident on the first floor of the West Tower.  

Koné said she does not mind the rumbling because she is usually in class when construction is occurring. 

However, Koné said she is concerned that residents were not notified about the construction in advance. She believes residents should be involved in conversations concerning construction that surrounds or affects their housing. 

Robert Boyle, the Assistant Vice President of the Department of Housing and Residence Life, said the department did not want to notify the entire Osprey Ridge community while plans with the contractor were still being discussed.

“[Construction] started earlier than we wanted them to,” Boyle said. 

After Osprey Ridge dorm completed construction under budget, UNF officials said it had extra funds to add these new amenities for its student residents.

“The majority of the construction from Ridge finished up late last summer, and always with projects of that size, there’s always a settling-in process. But from a larger project perspective, we had some money left over so what do we do?” Boyle said.

Gabriel Frey, another resident at Osprey Ridge who lives on the first floor in the West Tower, said he is excited to see what the construction will bring to the dorm. 

“I think watching a project from start to finish is cool,” Frey said. 

Wainwright said one of his priorities for this project is ensuring residents are not bothered during construction. 

Workers do not begin operating until around 9 a.m. and typically finish between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., maintaining reasonable working hours and halting construction on weekends, Wainwright said. 

Wainwright said construction employees “work really hard” to keep noise levels down and to make sure residents are comfortable while construction is occurring. 

Future Osprey Ridge construction

In fall 2027, Osprey Ridge will experience additional construction behind the dorm as UNF prepares to build the Honors Academic building outlined in the UNF 2025-2035 Master Plan, according to Wainwright. 

This building will include classrooms and an open lobby space with a grab-and-go coffee restaurant. The lobby will be open to all students, not just honors students, according to Wainwright. 

The beach volleyball court may have to be relocated to accommodate future construction projects, while the pickleball court will remain in the same area. 

“That one is going to be a really nice project,” Wainwright said. “I’m excited for that.”

 

 

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