Culture & Community
Residential Life - Culture & Community - MBA
Residential Life
Darden’s new on-Grounds student housing is designed to extend the Full-Time MBA experience beyond the classroom, creating a place where learning, connection and community come together in everyday life.
Beyond the community experience, the new residences are designed to support the full rhythm of Darden student life. The two-building complex will include apartment-style units and 338 beds, with a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including select two-bedroom units with dens. This range of options will give students flexibility in choosing a living arrangement that fits their needs, including partners, spouses, children and pets, while keeping them close to the people and places at the heart of the Darden experience.
Thoughtfully designed shared spaces will extend that experience beyond the individual apartment. Residents will have access to shared kitchens and dining areas, study and collaboration rooms, recreational spaces, landscaped courtyards, outdoor gathering areas and package lockers. Located on Grounds, the residences will place students within easy reach of classrooms, faculty and one another. Additionally, students will enjoy proximity to the North Grounds Recreation Center and the Rivanna Trail. The housing is designed to make it easier for students to engage with the collaborative, connected environment that defines the Full-Time MBA. The residences create a home base that brings more of the Darden experience into everyday life, on top of an already transformational education experience.
"Darden is relentlessly committed to creating the best possible residential MBA experience. That means building a community where students learn with and from one another, develop lasting relationships, and remain closely connected to their classmates, faculty and the School. The new residences are an important long-term investment in that ambition, making collaboration, engagement and shared experiences part of everyday life."
Housing FAQ
The new community will include 216 apartment-style units with 338 beds, offering studios as well as one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including some two-bedroom units with dens. Beyond the individual apartments, the residences will include shared kitchens and dining areas, study and collaboration rooms, recreational spaces, landscaped courtyards, outdoor gathering areas and package lockers. The goal is to provide both comfortable private living space and convenient places to study, connect and spend time with other students. {list other amenities and services here}
The residences are expected to be completed in spring 2027 and open for the 2027–28 academic year. The two-building complex reached its full structural height in February 2026 and remains on track for the 2027 opening for Full-Time MBA students in the Class of 2029.
All units will be assigned through a lottery. Additional details about the housing application and assignment process will be available on the admitted student portal for incoming admitted students.
No. Living in the new residences will be completely optional for Full-Time MBA students. Students can choose the housing option that best fits their needs, whether that is living on Grounds or elsewhere in Charlottesville. The on-Grounds residences are intended to provide another convenient option, particularly for students who are relocating to Charlottesville from elsewhere in the U.S. or around the world.