All UH students interested in innovation, entrepreneurship may apply for new housing

Students across the University of Hawaiʻi System who are interested in entrepreneurship are invited to apply to live at Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs (RISE), the mixed-use student housing/innovation center under construction across from the UH Mānoa campus.

The first students will move into RISE starting fall 2023. The residents will enjoy not only a brand-new housing community with like-minded students, but proximity to the wealth of UH entrepreneurship programs offered by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) in the Shidler College of Business, that will be centered in the classroom, makerspaces, meeting rooms, and co-working spaces on the bottom floors of the new facility.

Interested undergraduate and graduate students at any UH Oʻahu campus are encouraged to visit the RISE website for more information.

Leasing for fall 2023 will begin in fall 2022. University officials expect significant demand for the 374 beds in the $70 million live-learn-work RISE facility on the site of the former Atherton YMCA at the corner of University Avenue and Metcalf Street.

“RISE will provide UH students with unique opportunities to develop as innovators and entrepreneurs who will help lead the diversification and strengthening of our economy,” said UH President David Lassner. “It will also provide a meaningful increase in our student housing inventory that will help relieve pressure on the waiting lists created by enrollment growth at UH Mānoa, which looks to prepare for another record-breaking entering freshman class. This extraordinary project is coming together without burdening taxpayers thanks to the leadership and collaboration among our P3 partners and the support of private donors who have already given nearly $3.7 million to equip the state-of-the-art facility, provide scholarships and launch RISE programs.”

RISE is fully funded with private, non-taxpayer money. UH, UH Foundation and Hunt Companies entered into a public-private partnership (P3) to design, build and finance the facility. Moss is the general contractor. B.HOM Student Living will manage RISE, the university’s first externally managed student housing complex.

More on RISE

RISE is a first-of-its-kind, $70 million, six-story facility that will integrate an innovation-and-entrepreneurship center with student housing. It will be a collaborative learning environment where students of all disciplines can explore their passions, solve complex problems, build prototypes, test their ideas and access resources.

Students will cultivate new skill sets that are vital to becoming the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs who can positively impact our community. PACE will expand into the 114,000-square-foot structure and develop hands-on programs and operate the co-working space, meeting rooms, classroom and prototyping labs.

Learn more on PACE’s website. Follow RISE on Instagram and Facebook (@risemanoa) for sneak peek imagery and updates during development.

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