Partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC), Lobo Development facilitated the second student housing project since the early 1990’s on UNM property. Research completed by Lobo Development revealed a significant improvement in student’s graduation rates and GPA’s if they resided on campus, and UNM had a meager supply of 2,400 beds for an undergraduate population of 27,000 students. It was this research that led a campus wide initiative to increase the supply of student housing and also provide the students with a housing product they want. Casas Del Rio is part 2 of a three part project with ACC, to increase UNM’s student housing supply total from 2,400 to around 5,000 beds within just 4 years.

Casas del Rio is located on Central Campus near Johnson Field and the other student dormitories, and is within walking distance to the Student Union. Casas del Rio is a 4 building complex offering fully furnished, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom student suite apartments and a wide range of amenities for the students. There will be a total of 1,030 beds in Casas del Rio. It will be completed for Fall semester of 2012, and increase the number of beds on Central Campus to 3,300.

The second phase of Casas del Rio will add an additional 1,000 beds as well as a new student cafeteria to replace the overburdened La Posada. This project is scheduled to begin in 2014 and be completed by 2015. This will bring the total number of beds to around 5,000, and will provide a much needed amenity for the University.