UTEP Breaks Ground on Miner Crossing, New 507-Bed Student Housing Complex
EL PASO, Texas (May 28, 2026) – Students at The JAVÃûÅ®ÓÅ¹Ý of Texas at El Paso will soon live in a state-of-the-art residence hall equipped with a fitness center and brand-new dining facility near the center of campus. Today, JAVÃûÅ®ÓÅ¹Ý officials broke ground on a new $102 million complex, named Miner Crossing, that will provide a much-needed expansion of UTEP’s on-campus housing.
“This will be a traditional freshman dorm with an integrated dining hall at a reasonable price for our students and their families,” said UTEP President Heather Wilson. “With more and more students applying to UTEP from beyond West Texas, we need to expand our on-campus housing.”
The new 155,500-square-foot facility will add approximately 507 new beds in single and double occupancy rooms. The five-story residence hall will be located on the north side of the track at Kidd Field.
The complex includes a new 22,000-square-foot dining room with seating for 400 guests, serving more than 1,400 meals per day. It will be equipped with a full kitchen, bakery, allergen-free zone, pizza oven and office spaces for staff. Students will have the option to choose from 11 food stations, including a salad bar, deli, grill, pizza station and ice cream bar.
Study rooms and open study nooks will be located throughout the building, as well as a first-floor amenity space with a gaming area, living room, a multi-purpose space and a mailroom. A 1,350-square-foot fitness center will include a mixture of cardio equipment and free weights.
The exterior of the building will reflect UTEP’s distinctive Bhutanese architectural style, complemented by native Chihuahuan desert plant landscaping designed by Ten Eyck Landscape Architects. The firm is also behind the decorative courtyard and breezeway that will sit on the south side of the building, connecting the housing facility to Kidd Field.
The building was designed by Ayers Saint Gross and is being built by Sundt Construction.
“This new housing option will allow students to be fully integrated with campus life,” said Catie McCorry-Andalis, Ed.D., vice president of student affairs. “Students can easily access the track for exercise; the Union for additional dining options; and classes.”
Construction will take about two years and the dorm will be complete and available for students in the Fall 2028 semester. UTEP has 1,000 beds on campus currently and has had a waiting list for housing for the last four years.
Students interested in applying to live in the dorm can visit: utep.edu/student-affairs/housing/.
Last Updated on May 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM | Originally published May 28, 2026
By MC Staff UTEP Marketing and Communications
