533-bed student housing project rises near University of Tampa

A long, narrow stretch of land near the University of Tampa will soon be home to a 533-bed student housing community being built by a West Palm Beach-based commercial building contractor. 

Verdex Construction announced Tuesday it will begin vertical construction on Coral Walk, a development at 1000 W. Fig St. in downtown Tampa. Despite the property’s narrow footprint, the development is slated to include three six-story residential buildings with 249 units, a six-story precast parking garage and additional residential amenities, the announcement says. 

Site work began in May. 

Wilmington, North Carolina-based Zimmer Development Co. is developing the project, which was designed by architecture firm 3North, based in Richmond, Virginia. The development encompasses approximately 518,645 gross square feet.

Its dimensions for the urban property present a distinctive construction challenge: The site measures approximately 80 feet wide and 1,800 feet long. The buildings will use wood-frame construction over a podium, the release says

“Coral Walk is a great example of what can be accomplished through thoughtful planning and a creative approach to the use of space,” Toby Johnson, Verdex’s vice president and managing director for Florida’s west coast, says in the release. 

The project is directly adjacent to Apella on Newport, another student housing development Verdex constructed in 2024. 

“With Apella on Newport right next door, our team also brings valuable experience working in this area and understanding the logistics of building in this setting,” Johnson says in the release.

Verdex declined to disclose construction costs, an anticipated completion date or details about the community’s amenities. 

Founded in 2014, Verdex has offices in Tampa and Gainesville and its projects span from Miami to Orlando. The company specializes in construction management, general contracting and design-build services, with experience in multifamily, hospitality, institutional, industrial, senior living, student housing and commercial projects, the release says.