EXPANSION — Officials with the Franciscan University of Steubenville have announced plans to construct new residence halls along University Boulevard. Work is expected to start in the spring. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — Franciscan University of Steubenville Wednesday announced plans to add new residence halls to its lower campus as part of a broader residential improvement strategy. Designed to meet projected student housing needs, strengthen student life and renew existing resident facilities, the project advances the university’s long-term vision for University Boulevard and Franciscan Square as an inviting front door to campus and a growing hub for local community life.

Two new residence halls joined by a central common area will be built to accommodate a total of 400 students on the current site of Blessed John Duns Scotus Hall and St. John Vianney Hall on University Boulevard. University officials expect work to begin on the new halls in May and for them to be open to students in August 2027.

Record enrollment in the past decade made the expansion necessary, according to the Rev. Dave Pivonka, TOR, the university president.

“Due to record freshman classes during the last 10 years and our projected future enrollment growth, we need to add facilities now so we can continue to offer our unique student life experience in pleasant, homelike surroundings,” Pivonka explained. “So much human and spiritual formation happens in our residence halls in terms of friendship, prayer and community. Maintaining and building up that wonderful environment in which our students flourish requires an ongoing investment in facilities.”

Pivonka said the new residence halls will enable the university to embark on major renovations of older residence halls.

“These new residence halls will give us the space we need to reinvest in existing housing facilities without taking an entire dormitory offline,” Pivonka said. “Those significant upgrades to our older halls will further improve the student life experience and formation of our students.”

That’s good news for the school — and the city, officials explained.

“We’re really excited about everything Franciscan University is doing with development,” Mayor Ralph Petrella said.

He added that recent projects on the university campus and at Franciscan Square are a good sign for the community.

“When I was recruited to play football in college, the school’s president said you can judge a university by the amount of construction you see on campus. We’re certainly seeing that at Franciscan,” Petrella added. “They are always moving forward, always developing and always building.”

Growing enrollment is good for the university and the community, he said.

The new flagship residence halls on University Boulevard will have a hall for women and a hall for men with a central commons. Early concepts include a student gathering space that supports community life for students from all over campus, a chape and areas for programming, along with a rooftop connection and bridge designed to physically link the lower campus and upper campus.

The university’s goal has always been to create “one campus,” with an intentional student experience in every residential area, said Brenan Pergi, the university’s senior vice president and chief of staff.

“As we have expanded student housing along University Boulevard over the years, our vision from the start included uniting the lower campus to the upper campus in some way. This plan does exactly that,” Pergi said. “It creates a real campus connection and strengthens community life, and it allows us to deliver a better living experience for all our students.”

Pergi said the university is pursuing the project through a partnership with University Housing Solutions, using a lease-buyback model.

“Under this approach, UHS will finance and construct the facility, while the university retains control of all aspects of the building operations including student life standards and housing assignments,” Pergi said, adding that this project continues Franciscan’s investment along University Boulevard.

“During the past 30 years, Franciscan University has acquired more than 50 acres, and approximately $50 million has been invested along the boulevard and around Franciscan Square. Those efforts have included major improvements, amenities and ongoing commercial development that benefit not only students but local community members and area visitors,” Pergi said.

“Franciscan Square, in particular, reflects a clear vision: To facilitate the university’s growth and mission, provide hospitality and recreation for everyone, create an iconic landmark and entry to campus and the upper Ohio Valley, and contribute to regional revitalization through economic development. The square’s ice rink and new restaurants under development are examples of how the university is working to welcome the community while strengthening the local economy,” Pergi said.

Following recent meetings with city leaders regarding the construction of the new residence halls, the university will continue design development, traffic and pedestrian-safety planning, and the next phases of planning. The university will share additional project details — including refined plans and timelines — as progress continues.