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University of Michigan and American Campus Communities Celebrate Grand Opening of Wolverine Village
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People on the stage prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon at Wolverine Village. (Photo by Christina Merrill, Michigan Photography)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – September 18, 2026 – The University of Michigan and American Campus Communities (ACC), one of the nation’s largest student housing providers and a Blackstone portfolio company, today celebrated the grand opening of Wolverine Village, a new 2,298-bed residential community on the university’s Central Campus.
The more than $600 million, 750,000 square foot development includes five residence halls and a 800-seat dining hall, expanding access to on-campus housing for first- and second-year students while creating new spaces designed to support academic success.
The University of Michigan community joined in to help everyone celebrate, and guests then toured the new residence halls. The program featured remarks from University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso, Regent Michael J. Behm, Student Life leaders and two student speakers. It concluded with a ribbon cutting in the community's vaulted dining hall, a soaring space that anchors the new residential quad.
The celebration also honored Dr. E. Royster Harper, vice president emerita for Student Life, who spoke during the program. One of the buildings in Wolverine Village is named for Dr. E. Royster Harper Hall, home to nearly 500 first-year and returning students, recognizing her key role in expanding and renovating U-M's residence hall system and advancing student well-being.
“I consider it a great benefit that the five residence halls at Wolverine Village now allow all first-year students the option to live on Central Campus while creating more opportunities for returning and transfer students to live on campus,” said Martino Harmon, Vice President for Student Life at the University of Michigan.
Delivered through a public-private partnership between the University of Michigan and ACC, Wolverine Village pairs the university’s financial resources and long-term campus vision with ACC’s student housing development expertise. ACC served as the third-party developer, overseeing design, development and construction management, while the university retained ownership, operations and strategic control of the project.
"Wolverine Village reflects what’s possible when a university and development partner share a clear vision for the student experience,” said Jamie Wilhelm, Chief Development Officer at American Campus Communities. “The scale of this project is significant, but what matters most is what it will mean for generations of Michigan students. Together with the University of Michigan, we’ve created a community that brings housing, dining, academic spaces and opportunities for connection together in a way that feels distinctly Michigan and will serve the campus for decades to come.”
Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), with interiors by Elkus Manfredi Architects, contracting by the Christman Company and engineering services by Integrated Design Solutions (IDS), Wolverine Village draws inspiration from the University of Michigan’s architectural heritage. Collegiate Gothic elements including brick, stone, arched passages and a central tower frame a landscaped quad, creating a new residential destination that connects Central Campus with the Athletic Campus.
At the heart of the community is an 800-seat dining hall designed to serve both Wolverine Village residents and the broader Central Campus community. Each of the five buildings include student-focused amenities for study, gathering and socialization, creating a place for future generations of students to begin their collegiate careers. Wolverine Village was designed with sustainability as a core priority and is targeting LEED Platinum certification. Sustainability features include an all-electric design for both housing and dining, geo-exchange systems serving the dining hall, a high-performance building envelope, rooftop solar and green roofs, all supporting the university’s broader carbon-neutrality commitments.
“Wolverine Village is an investment in the student experience and in the university’s future,” said Bobby Hewlett, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Michigan. “Its scale and sustainable design demonstrate what is possible when we approach campus infrastructure with a long-term perspective. We are grateful to the university teams and partners whose years of planning, financing, design and construction made this remarkable new community possible.”
The development also helped create a new home for historic Elbel Field, which was relocated one block north and rebuilt to include a dedicated teaching and practice facility for the Michigan Marching Band.
Construction on Wolverine Village began in September 2023 following approval by the University of Michigan Board of Regent.
American Campus Communities is the nation's largest developer, owner, and manager of premium student housing communities throughout the United States. With extensive experience in design, finance, development, construction management, and operational oversight, the company has facilitated over 115 public-private partnership (P3) transactions at 65 colleges and universities nationwide.
Visit www.americancampus.com and follow the company on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated on the latest student housing news.
The University of Michigan is one of the nation’s leading public universities, known for excellence in education, research and public service. Across its campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint, U-M advances discovery and innovation in health, science, engineering, business, humanities, the arts and beyond. For more than 200 years, the university has been committed to educating students, advancing knowledge and serving communities in Michigan, across the nation and around the world. U-M is also home to Michigan Medicine, a nationally recognized academic health system, and a world-renowned intercollegiate athletics program.
The more than $600 million, 750,000 square foot development includes five residence halls and a 800-seat dining hall, expanding access to on-campus housing for first- and second-year students while creating new spaces designed to support academic success.
The University of Michigan community joined in to help everyone celebrate, and guests then toured the new residence halls. The program featured remarks from University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso, Regent Michael J. Behm, Student Life leaders and two student speakers. It concluded with a ribbon cutting in the community's vaulted dining hall, a soaring space that anchors the new residential quad.
The celebration also honored Dr. E. Royster Harper, vice president emerita for Student Life, who spoke during the program. One of the buildings in Wolverine Village is named for Dr. E. Royster Harper Hall, home to nearly 500 first-year and returning students, recognizing her key role in expanding and renovating U-M's residence hall system and advancing student well-being.
“I consider it a great benefit that the five residence halls at Wolverine Village now allow all first-year students the option to live on Central Campus while creating more opportunities for returning and transfer students to live on campus,” said Martino Harmon, Vice President for Student Life at the University of Michigan.
Delivered through a public-private partnership between the University of Michigan and ACC, Wolverine Village pairs the university’s financial resources and long-term campus vision with ACC’s student housing development expertise. ACC served as the third-party developer, overseeing design, development and construction management, while the university retained ownership, operations and strategic control of the project.
"Wolverine Village reflects what’s possible when a university and development partner share a clear vision for the student experience,” said Jamie Wilhelm, Chief Development Officer at American Campus Communities. “The scale of this project is significant, but what matters most is what it will mean for generations of Michigan students. Together with the University of Michigan, we’ve created a community that brings housing, dining, academic spaces and opportunities for connection together in a way that feels distinctly Michigan and will serve the campus for decades to come.”
Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA), with interiors by Elkus Manfredi Architects, contracting by the Christman Company and engineering services by Integrated Design Solutions (IDS), Wolverine Village draws inspiration from the University of Michigan’s architectural heritage. Collegiate Gothic elements including brick, stone, arched passages and a central tower frame a landscaped quad, creating a new residential destination that connects Central Campus with the Athletic Campus.
At the heart of the community is an 800-seat dining hall designed to serve both Wolverine Village residents and the broader Central Campus community. Each of the five buildings include student-focused amenities for study, gathering and socialization, creating a place for future generations of students to begin their collegiate careers. Wolverine Village was designed with sustainability as a core priority and is targeting LEED Platinum certification. Sustainability features include an all-electric design for both housing and dining, geo-exchange systems serving the dining hall, a high-performance building envelope, rooftop solar and green roofs, all supporting the university’s broader carbon-neutrality commitments.
“Wolverine Village is an investment in the student experience and in the university’s future,” said Bobby Hewlett, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the University of Michigan. “Its scale and sustainable design demonstrate what is possible when we approach campus infrastructure with a long-term perspective. We are grateful to the university teams and partners whose years of planning, financing, design and construction made this remarkable new community possible.”
The development also helped create a new home for historic Elbel Field, which was relocated one block north and rebuilt to include a dedicated teaching and practice facility for the Michigan Marching Band.
Construction on Wolverine Village began in September 2023 following approval by the University of Michigan Board of Regent.
About American Campus Communities
American Campus Communities is the nation's largest developer, owner, and manager of premium student housing communities throughout the United States. With extensive experience in design, finance, development, construction management, and operational oversight, the company has facilitated over 115 public-private partnership (P3) transactions at 65 colleges and universities nationwide.Visit www.americancampus.com and follow the company on LinkedIn and Instagram to stay updated on the latest student housing news.
