Construction has begun on Florida State University-Panama City’s first on-campus apartments.

“It keeps them engaged in activities on the campus,” said FSU-Panama City Dean Randy Hanna. “It would be really easy to walk from residential housing to a sporting event [and] to work with your fellow classmates on the weekend. It enhances the academic experience.”

The multi-story student apartment building will serve full-time students at both FSU Panama City and Gulf Coast State College. Zimmer Development Company, a North Carolina-based developer that specializes in student housing, is building the $23 million facility, which will offer 1-4 bedroom apartments.

Hanna says finding a developer was the most time-consuming part of the four-year effort to get the student housing project off the ground. With construction now underway, the apartments are set to come online next fall.

Adding student apartments to the campus has been one of his priorities, Hanna said. He says he expects it to improve students’ academic success.

“Having a residential housing facility here that will serve both our students and Gulf Coast, we believe, will increase the number of students who take advantage of the opportunities here.”