AUBURN — The Auburn University Board of Trustees approved plans to replace Cambridge Residence Hall with a state-of-the-art facility that will expand on-campus housing in a prime location near the core of campus.
The decision follows a comprehensive review by Student Affairs and Facilities Management, which determined that constructing a new facility offers greater long-term benefits than renovating the existing structure.
The project will demolish Cambridge Hall and construct a six-story, 170,000-square-foot facility, which will be known as East Thach Residence Hall and will provide 680 beds as well as modern student amenities.
Located near the intersection of East Thach Avenue and South Gay Street, the new East Thach Residence Hall will place students steps away from dining, classroom and academic support spaces, Rane Culinary Science Center and the Hey Day Market.
“East Thach will significantly advance Auburn’s housing portfolio, and it reiterates our commitment to providing excellent living opportunities for our incoming students,” Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Bobby R. Woodard said. “The demand to live on or adjacent to campus speaks to the exceptional experience students have at Auburn.”
In fall 2026, the concourse residence hall will open, adding 371 beds inside a new facility in the campus Quad. Along with university-leased properties adjacent to campus, the two new facilities will greatly increase Auburn’s housing inventory at a time of high demand.
The fall 2025 first-time freshman cohort was 6,112 students, which was within nine students of the fall 2024 freshman cohort of 6,103. The university intends to maintain a targeted freshman enrollment of approximately 6,100 students for at least the next four years.
Owen Beaverstock, president of the Student Government Association, said students will welcome the new facility and its location.
“Auburn students see living on or near campus as a core aspect of their college experience,” Beaverstock said. “The prime locations of East Thach and the concourse residence hall will put students just steps from their classes, close to university and community resources, and surrounded by everything that makes the Auburn student experience so exceptional.”
Demolition of the existing building is expected to begin in early 2026, with new construction to follow that spring. The design, developed by Williams Blackstock Architects of Birmingham, has been reviewed and approved to meet Auburn University’s image and character design guidelines.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our email newsletter to have all our smart stories delivered to your inbox.
