Phase II delivers 1,024 new student beds ahead of schedule and under budget, bringing the RISE and UTK housing partnership to nearly 3,000 beds

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – August 17, 2026 – RISE, a leading national developer, manager and operator of student housing, joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to celebrate the dedication and ribbon cutting of Torchbearer Hall, a new 1,024-bed residential community designed to support UTK’s continued growth and enhance the student experience.

Torchbearer Hall represents the second phase of RISE’s public-private partnership with UTK and brings the total number of beds delivered through the partnership to nearly 3,000 across Beacon, Poplar and Torchbearer residential communities.

The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, continuing a partnership focused on helping UTK respond to growing demand for on-campus housing while creating residential environments that support student success, connection and well-being.

“Students choose UT because they trust that we will provide the resources, the support and the rich campus environment that they’re looking for. That is why we are investing in residence halls and partnerships like this one,” said UTK Chancellor Donde Plowman during the dedication ceremony. “I’m so grateful to RISE Real Estate, our colleagues, our partners, and to the creative and solution-minded leaders on our campus who worked on this project, ensuring it remained ahead of schedule and under budget, all while keeping the needs of our students at the forefront.”

A Partnership Built Around Execution and Student Success

“For me, the most rewarding part of this project is not simply that we delivered another 1,024 beds — it is what those beds mean for UTK and its students,” said Jeremy Doss, Senior Vice President of RISE. “Across two phases, we have now worked alongside the University to deliver nearly 3,000 beds while helping UTK respond to extraordinary growth on its campus. To deliver Torchbearer Hall ahead of schedule and under budget is something our entire team is incredibly proud of, but the real measure of success is seeing students move in and watching these communities become part of the UT experience.”

Doss and members of RISE’s development and management teams were on campus during move-in week welcoming students and helping residents settle into their new home.

RISE’s role at UTK extends beyond development and construction. RISE provides ongoing facilities management, custodial services and capital renewal administration for the residential communities delivered through the partnership, working side-by-side with UTK’s University Housing team throughout the life of the project. While RISE focuses on the care, maintenance and long-term stewardship of the facilities, University Housing leads residence life programming, student engagement and other core housing functions.

The model allows UTK to retain leadership of the student experience while having a dedicated partner at its service every day, supporting the University Housing team and helping maintain an exceptional residential environment for students.

“This partnership continues to help meet the needs of our growing campus and is a great example of the creativity and innovative solutions that happen every day at UT,” said Anthony White, Executive Director of University Housing.

Student-Centered Design and Community Building
Torchbearer Hall was designed with student success and community at its core. The residence hall includes a centralized community hub with reception areas, staff offices, community kitchens and lounges, along with study rooms, multipurpose spaces, resident gathering areas and laundry facilities throughout the building.

The building’s expansive courtyard provides another central gathering place for residents and the broader campus community and features a distinctive 36-foot-long metal fire feature celebrating Tennessee’s Volunteer identity.

During the dedication ceremony, UTK leaders emphasized that new residence halls are about far more than adding beds.

“These spaces help support their academic success. It helps them build connections, build community, and their overall well-being,” said Dr. Frank Cuevas, Vice Chancellor for Student Life. “But more importantly, it allows us to provide more housing for our students and be able to connect those students with resources for them to be successful.”

Chancellor Plowman also reflected on meeting students and families during move-in week and the role residential communities play in UTK’s broader student experience.
“Torchbearer Hall is the latest residential community to be part of the transformation happening across our campus, one that reflects our priorities and progress as a university,” Plowman said. “Having a safe, welcoming space to study, to rest, make new friends … is a critical part of a student’s well-being here. And ultimately, it contributes to their success.”

A Proven Public-Private Partnership
Torchbearer Hall represents the culmination of the first two phases of RISE’s housing partnership with UTK, which together have delivered nearly 3,000 new beds across three residential communities.

The program demonstrates how public-private partnerships can help universities address significant housing needs while maintaining a focus on financial discipline, schedule certainty, long-term asset stewardship and the student experience.

For RISE, the partnership reflects a broader philosophy about how successful on-campus P3s should work: the University leads with its mission, vision and student priorities, while RISE brings the development, financial, construction and operating resources needed to help make that vision a reality.

“The strongest university partnerships are built around understanding where the institution wants to lead and then bringing the right resources around that vision,” Doss said. “At UTK, our role has always been to work alongside the University — not simply to deliver facilities, but to provide a long-term solution that supports its growth and its mission. We are incredibly grateful for the trust UTK has placed in our team and proud of what we have accomplished together.”

The RISE team for Phase II included Niles Bolton Associates and Cope Architecture as architectural partners; Blaine Construction as general contractor; Brailsford & Dunlavey; RBC Capital Markets as investment banker; and Provident Resources Group as the project’s nonprofit owner.

About RISE On Campus
RISE is a leading national developer, manager and operator of student housing with extensive experience delivering on-campus and public-private partnership projects for colleges and universities across the country. RISE works with higher education partners to create tailored development, financing, construction, facilities management and long-term stewardship solutions designed around each institution’s mission, needs and long-term objectives.

Ribbon Cutting Photo Source: news.utk.edu