A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Oct. 26 for the new 451-bed Vandal Village apartment community for graduate students and student families at the University of Idaho. | Photo Credit: Leah Reitcheck, University of Idaho
- Vandal Village provides 451 beds for graduate students and student families in a 200,000-square-foot apartment community.
- Gilbane Development and Rocky Mountain Companies led development, with Lydig as contractor and Integrus and Design Collective as architects.
- The broader housing program includes renovations at Wallace Residence Center and Theophilus Tower, with phased completion scheduled through August 2027.
MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Idaho, Gilbane Development and Rocky Mountain Companies celebrated a ribbon cutting for Vandal Village, a 451-bed apartment community for graduate students and student families.
The 200,000-square-foot development contains 240 apartments and is part of a larger effort combining new housing construction with renovations to existing campus residence halls.
Vandal Village allocates 232 beds to graduate students and 219 to married and parenting students. Apartments come furnished and include wireless internet, air conditioning, washers and dryers, and full-size kitchens with dishwashers. The community allows pets and includes a shared center with areas for studying, collaboration and social activities.
Gilbane Development and Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Companies served as the master developer team. Lydig was the contractor, while Integrus and Design Collective provided architectural services.
The university’s official Vandal Housing Project website identifies the new-construction component as South Hill and describes a wider program addressing both graduate and undergraduate housing needs.
At Wallace Residence Center, planned renovations cover 1,056 beds along with lounges, study areas and other common spaces. Work at the 11-story Theophilus Tower encompasses 394 beds, updated shared facilities and study spaces, and the addition of air conditioning to support year-round occupancy. Phased completion of those renovations is scheduled from August 2025 through August 2027.
The program is financed through university-issued long-term bonds approved by the Idaho State Board of Education. The university will retain responsibility for operating and managing the new and renovated housing, including leasing, residence life staffing and maintenance.
The university said the upgrades respond to aging housing facilities and growing enrollment, with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers among the groups the university seeks to attract and retain. Sustainability and energy efficiency are stated priorities for new construction and renovations.
“Vandal Village underscores our continued dedication to delivering high-quality student housing communities designed for student success,” said Geoff Eisenacher, Executive Development Director, Gilbane Development, according to a press release from Gilbane. “We’re proud to have partnered with the University of Idaho to advance their campus housing goals and deliver modern apartments that give graduate students and student families a place that supports how they actually live and study.”
Brian Foisy, the university’s Vice President for Finance and Administration, said the apartments reflect an effort to balance long-term campus planning with improvements that students can use now.
“Our responsibility is to plan for the university’s future while delivering improvements students can use today. Vandal Village puts that investment into practice, providing furnished apartments for graduate students and families as part of a broader effort to improve campus housing,” Foisy said, according to Gilbane’s release.
This article is based on an emailed press release from Gilbane dated Oct. 26, 2026, and information from the University of Idaho’s official Vandal Housing Project website.