Villas on Frances Breaks Ground

July 28, 2026

Villas on Frances has officially broken ground in Madison, serving the student population at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Developed by Villas Student Housing and designed by Rhode Partners, this marks the fourth student housing project the award-winning team has brought to life. Spanning 16 floors with additional below-grade parking and a boutique retail space, the 157,000 sf project features 466 bedrooms. The project is slated for completion in 2028, ahead of the fall semester.

The property will offer a mix of amenities including a hotel-style reception, lounge area and study spaces. The top level will feature a rooftop offering an expansive array of amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full-court basketball court, an enclosed all-glass spa with an indoor-outdoor rooftop pool, separate hot tub, sauna, and additional health and wellness amenities.

Villas Student Housing's Grant Zucker, expresses, "Villas has been searching for the right opportunity to enter the Madison market for many years. This iconic location on North Frances, just a few steps off State Street, is the perfect location to showcase our brand of boutique one-of-a-kind projects."

Nestled on a high-profile downtown lot adjacent to a historic building, the project's ground floor facade ties into the historic context with brick, brass, and window wall while also bringing a breathtaking and elegant entry point to the building.

Rhode Partners' Senior Partner, Bobby Tait, says "Rhode Partners is honored to collaborate on this unique project to accommodate housing needs near campus with intentional and innovative architecture and design. We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the City of Madison and project stakeholders to create an engaging street presence and a building program designed to accommodate the modern student with thoughtful amenities."