News & Insights

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

A new front door for student life at MTSU

On April 8, 2026, in Murfreesboro, Tenn., Middle Tennessee State University broke ground on a project designed to meet a simple, pressing need: more space for students to live and a better place to come home to.

Womack Commons, a new 554-bed residence community, will rise at the edge of campus as both housing and arrival point. The development brings together student living with a structured parking garage, uniting two needs that often compete for space on growing campuses: where students live and where they park. The project is expected to be completed in Summer 2027.

Designed for how students actually live

At its core, the project is about capacity and quality. Womack Commons will significantly expand the number of available beds on campus while introducing a different kind of residential experience, one organized around shared spaces and day-to-day usability. Plans include study lounges, community kitchens, and outdoor courtyards designed to support both academic work and informal connection.

The addition of structured parking is equally deliberate. As enrollment grows, so does demand for accessible parking near student housing. By integrating parking directly into the development, the university is addressing that demand in a way that keeps students closer to where they live and learn.

A practical response to growth

Together, the housing and parking components create a more defined entry point to campus, one that reflects how students actually move through their day. Instead of separating living, studying, and commuting into disconnected experiences, Womack Commons brings them into closer alignment.

The project also reflects a broader reality facing many institutions: student housing plays an increasingly important role in recruitment, retention, and overall student experience. For MTSU, expanding and updating its housing stock is a practical step toward keeping pace with demand while improving how students experience campus life.

Womack Commons is expected to serve students for decades, replacing older housing with a more durable, flexible model built around contemporary student needs.

B&D is serving as development advisor on the project.