ACU is expanding housing options and reopening the former Mabee Hall, now named Traditions Hall, as increased demand places pressure on students seeking on-campus and temporary housing.

Kevin Campbell, senior vice president for operations, said the university began planning additional housing after it saw more students interested in remaining on campus. More than 120 students were on the waitlist for University Park Apartments this year.

“Once we started realizing that there’s going to be a lot of housing pressure, we started designing and thinking about adding housing here on campus,” Campbell said.

The renovated Traditions Hall will be housing for upperclassmen who have had trouble being placed into the University Park Apartments. The former Mabee Hall closed in the fall of 2024.

In addition to new and renovated housing, adjustments have been made for current housing, including letting sophomore students live in freshman residence halls and upperclassmen live in sophomore halls.

Sienna Fae Velasquez, a junior finance major from Midland, said finding housing off campus was difficult enough that she considered living in her parents’ RV.

“I kid you not, down to even trailer parks,” Velasquez said. “That is how bad the temporary housing was. I could not find a spot anywhere.”

Velasquez said Residence Life initially offered her housing in Traditions Hall. She said a Residence Life employee told her the reopened building was intended as a temporary solution.

Velasquez expressed concerns about its condition, including mold, and worried about whether the hall would be ready for residents.

Campbell said Traditions Hall’s previous closure was unrelated to health concerns. Instead, he said the former Mabee Hall did not have enough common space, and its renovation costs would have been substantial.

Campbell said the university deep-cleaned Traditions Hall, reinstalled thermostats and replaced boiler equipment, creating a new hot-water system. About 55 to 60 students will live there this fall.

Velasquez said she preferred University Park Apartments and remained on its waitlist, but Residence Life ultimately placed her in Barret Hall. She said she did not initially apply to live in Barret Hall and had already spent two semesters there, but viewed the placement as a better option than Traditions Hall.

“They did a phenomenal job,” Velasquez said. “I know there was quite a few students that were struggling in the same way that I was.”

Campbell said ACU expects about 100 beds to open in January in new apartments west of Dillard Hall. The project will eventually include three apartment buildings with 156 beds and a clubhouse. The apartments will include one- and two-bedroom units with kitchens, living rooms and separate bedrooms.

ACU is also planning an apartment complex north of the football stadium for juniors, seniors and graduate students. Campbell said the project could provide about 255 beds, with about 90 expected to open by the next school year.

While construction continues, Campbell said every student who contacted Residence Life about housing has been offered a space in Traditions Hall or an existing sophomore residence hall.

More information about housing at ACU can be found here.