Idaho’s state Board of Education today approved plans by Boise State University to build a new $40 million living-learning facility for BSU’s 600-student Honors College on the site of the former University Christian Church. The property is right across University Drive from the BSU Student Union Building; BSU bought the property in 2013 for $5.9 million after the congregation moved to Meridian. The new building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2017, with housing for 656 students, classrooms, dining halls and more.

BSU’s Honors College has been growing quickly in the past three years; it saw a 50 percent increase in applications this year. “We expect this trend to continue,” said Honors College Dean Andrew Finstuen. “Our current Honors residence hall accommodates less than half of the Honors students who live on campus. A new facility will help provide classrooms, community space and additional beds to not only support the Honors College students, but also the university community at large.”

The state board approved BSU’s plans for a public-private partnership to construct the new building. The university will partner with Education Realty Trust Inc. to build and run the facility. The company owns or manages more than 42,000 student beds in 77 communities; it was selected after the university advertised for proposals in 2014. BSU won’t take on any debt for the new structure.