18-story sustainable residence hall will bring 972 first-year students together and become largest capital project in university’s history
BOSTON — Wentworth Institute of Technology has partnered with Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions (BBCS) to deliver a transformational new first-year residence hall that will reshape the student residential experience on the university’s Boston campus.
The $200 million First-Year Tower Residence Hall will be an 18-story, 202,000-square-foot facility designed to house 972 first-year students, bringing Wentworth’s entire first-year residential class together under one roof for the first time in the university’s history.
The project represents the largest capital investment ever undertaken by Wentworth and serves as a key component of the university’s 10-year Institutional Master Plan, which aims to expand campus housing capacity and enhance the overall student experience.
Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions is partnering with BOND and Perkins&Will on the development, which is designed to create a living-learning environment focused on student connection, academic success and well-being.
The new residence hall will feature:
- 972 student beds dedicated to first-year students
- Dining facilities and community gathering spaces
- Student lounges and collaboration areas throughout residential floors
- Improved pedestrian connections across campus
- Modern residential amenities designed to support the transition to college life
The building will also incorporate ambitious sustainability goals. Designed to achieve Passive House standards, the First-Year Tower is expected to be among the first all-electric residence halls of its kind in Massachusetts. The design will focus on reducing energy consumption while improving indoor air quality, thermal comfort and long-term operational efficiency.
“Our partnership with Wentworth has been especially meaningful as we’ve worked together to reimagine the first-year residential experience,” said Amy Aponte, senior vice president at Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions. “Delivering a project of this scale in less than a year required strong collaboration, and Wentworth has been an exceptional partner throughout the process. Together, we’ve helped create a community designed to support student well-being, foster connection, and set students up for success from their very first day on campus.”
Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson said the project reflects the university’s commitment to creating a stronger campus experience for future generations of students.
“Wentworth set out to build something ambitious on an aggressive timeline, and that only works with the right partner,” Thompson said. “Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions helped us move from a vision of the tower to breaking ground in remarkable time, while keeping our students at the center of every decision. This building will shape the Wentworth experience for generations.”
As part of its Institutional Master Plan, Wentworth plans to add approximately 1,400 new beds over the next decade and increase the percentage of students living on campus to approximately 75%.
University officials said the expanded housing capacity will also benefit the surrounding Boston neighborhoods by helping reduce pressure on the local rental market while adding public realm improvements, including enhanced pedestrian connections and transportation infrastructure.
Construction is currently underway, with a formal groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for Sept. 17, 2026. The First-Year Tower is expected to open and welcome its first residents in August 2028.
Founded as a leader in applied education, Wentworth Institute of Technology focuses on architecture, design, construction, engineering, computing, emerging technologies and management, with an emphasis on experiential learning and industry partnerships.
Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions provides development, asset management and real estate services to higher education institutions through public-private partnerships, supporting projects ranging from student housing and academic buildings to research facilities, athletics and campus infrastructure.
