Edgemoor saw the University of Kansas's student housing project as an opportunity to redefine the student experience and campus growth at KU. Although the university initially requested developer-owned student housing and a dining center, with ground rent paid to KU by the developer, the Edgemoor team helped develop a new solution that unlocked even more value for the university.
 

Through early engagement with the university, Edgemoor presented innovative financial models demonstrating that direct university ownership of the housing would generate significantly greater and more sustainable cash flow for KU. This strategic pivot was instrumental, helping KU unlock powerful new revenue streams capable of offsetting the financing and operating costs of the entire Central District. 

 

The result is a transformative development: housing for 1,250 students anchored by a 400-seat dining facility. By aligning early with the university, we helped shape durable, low-maintenance systems and materials. Today, we provide ongoing, long-term asset management and operational oversight for the student housing and the broader Central District— from the science center to the central plant and student union, reflecting our commitment to the district’s long-term performance.

 

A decade after opening, the housing has become a defining part of student life at KU, supporting a stronger residential community at the heart of campus. The dining commons has become one of the most active gathering spaces on campus, and the long-term operating partnership has kept the buildings performing at the same standard students experienced on day one. Together with the rest of the Central District, the housing helps the university recruit, retain, and serve students in ways that were not previously possible.