Vanderbilt to build new residential college on The Ingram Commons

Vanderbilt University will embark on an expansion of The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons on the Peabody campus, to open for the start of the 2027-28 academic year.

The new house will welcome approximately 150 additional first-year students and, like the existing Commons houses, will feature a faculty apartment for the head of house and collaboration spaces on each floor to support academic and social engagement. Construction of the new college will begin in December 2025.

Expanding The Ingram Commons was identified as the next housing priority for the university after the transformation of the West End Neighborhoodwas completed and plans for three new residential colleges in the Central Neighborhoodwere announced.

"The Commons has long served as the foundation of the Vanderbilt experience-where students first learn what it means to live, learn and lead together," said C. Cybele Raver, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. "This expansion allows us to extend to even more students a Vanderbilt education and that welcoming environment that enables students to thrive, while enhancing the academic and social spaces that make The Commons such a powerful model for community and discovery."

Enhancing the Student Experience

The residential college experience is designed to create opportunities for students to engage in integrative learning, dialogue across difference, engage in advocacy, and foster leadership potential and global connections. The new Commons house will continue to deliver those opportunities to first-year students and expand the success of The Ingram Commons.

As part of the project, construction activity in The Commons area will bring changes to parking and circulation in that area of campus.

Construction and Parking Impacts

• Parking Lot 90, currently designated for annual and assigned parking, will permanently close to accommodate the new construction.

• Construction fencing will be installed in mid-December to prepare the site.

• Alternative parking options for affected permit holders, along with pedestrian and vehicular routes, will be identified and shared in advance of the closure to ensure a smooth transition.

If you have questions about construction, please email [email protected].