Already significantly upgraded with the recent openings of two residential facilities, student housing at the University of Miami is poised to take another giant leap forward when a new residential college complex featuring mostly private rooms and several sustainable features opens on the institution’s Coral Gables Campus in 2028.
Gables Village will include two multistory buildings featuring 1,458 beds—the majority of which will be single rooms—along with study lounges and classrooms, recreational areas, event space, and a 700-seat dining facility.
Designed by the Miami-based global architecture firm Arquitectonica, the 573,804-square-foot complex will rise just off Stanford Drive at the site of the existing Mahoney-Pearson Residential College, which will be demolished in summer 2026 to make way for the new housing development.
“The razing of Mahoney-Pearson and the subsequent construction of Gables Village are part of the University’s long-term Housing Facilities Strategic Plan to modernize on-campus housing for our students,” said Richard Sobaram, associate vice president for student affairs and housing strategic initiatives. “This is also an important component of our strategy of bringing new residential housing online before taking down existing buildings.”
Sobaram noted, for example, that the University demolished Hecht Residential College in 2022 only after the opening of Lakeside Village, while in 2024, Stanford Residential College was torn down after the first phase of Centennial Village opened that same year. “Now, Mahoney-Pearson will be demolished only after the second phase of Centennial Village opens this summer,” he said.
The current Mahoney-Pearson dining hall will remain open until the new dining facility at Gables Village becomes operational, according to Sobaram.
The new Gables Village, which will be open to upper-class students, is slated for a Fall 2028 completion, marking the third phase of the University’s ongoing housing strategic initiative. It will include two multistory towers, the first of which will rise nine stories and include 222 units providing more than 730 beds. The 10-story second tower will offer 207 units with more than 720 beds. The two towers will be connected by a pedestrian-oriented corridor featuring landscaped walkways and green spaces.
“Prospective students can look forward to the opportunity to have new housing options to complement Centennial Village and Lakeside Village,” said Patricia A. Whitely, senior vice president for student affairs and alumni engagement. “From the high percentage of single rooms that it will offer to amenities such as study areas, classrooms, a dining hall, and recreation, we’re excited about what the new housing complex will offer students.”
In addition to the two Gables Village residential towers, an 8,500-square-foot central energy plant adjacent to the existing Mahoney-Pearson Garage will be built. “The energy plant and existing garage will bolster our campus infrastructure and accessibility and support the functionality and sustainability of the new Gables Village complex,” said Jessica Brumley, vice president of facilities operations and planning.
The City of Coral Gables Development Review Committee is scheduled to review the Gables Village project on Nov. 21. If it is greenlighted, construction on the complex would begin in summer 2026, with a Fall 2028 completion date targeted for both the residential towers and central energy plant.
Here’s what you need to know about the planned Gables Village complex and the demolition of Mahoney-Pearson Residential College.
What will the new Gables Village include?
Approximately 1,458 beds, with a majority being private, single rooms; study lounges; event and recreational spaces; and a new dining hall.
Who will live in Gables Village?
Upper-class students.
When is it scheduled to open?
Fall 2028.
Why is Mahoney-Pearson Residential College being demolished?
To make way for Gables Village. The demolition of Mahoney-Pearson and the construction of Gables Village mark Phase 3 of a multiyear, multiphase strategic plan to modernize on-campus housing facilities.
When will the demolition of Mahoney-Pearson occur?
Summer 2026.
How will students currently living in Mahoney-Pearson be impacted?
There will be no impact. First-year students currently living in Mahoney-Pearson can apply to live in sophomore housing in Lakeside Village or in a limited number of sophomore beds in Eaton Residential College. Some may also choose to live off campus.
Will the University communicate updates about the demolition of Mahoney-Pearson and the construction of the new Gables Village?
Yes. As with any major project, the University will provide regular updates to impacted stakeholders about construction schedules and any disruptions to campus activities.
