Apella on Newport

Overview

Opportunity

Solution

Impact

Team

Apella on Newport sets a new standard for Tampa student housing, blending neighborhood heritage, hospitality-driven amenities, and walkable living steps from campus.

Location

Tampa, Florida

Client

Commercial Street Partners

Expertise

Residential [FPO] Architecture - Core & Shell (New)

Opportunity

As enrollment grows and nearby housing stays limited, Tampa needed student living that could support demand while strengthening walkability, density, and neighborhood character.

Demand for housing near the University of Tampa has intensified as enrollment grows and high-quality on- and off-campus options remain limited. At the same time, West Tampa is evolving into a more walkable, mixed-use district with renewed investment and stronger neighborhood identity. The opportunity was to create a student housing community that could meet modern expectations for amenity-rich living while also responding to its urban edge condition — bridging campus life, neighborhood heritage, and long-term value through density, pedestrian activity, and a more hospitality-forward residential experience.

Why This Matters

01
Meet Student Demand
With limited housing options near the University of Tampa, Apella helps expand supply with a higher-density community designed around how students live today.
02
Strengthen Walkable Living
By placing housing, amenities, bike infrastructure, and future retail near campus, the project supports a more walkable lifestyle and reduces dependence on daily car use.
03
Bridge Campus and Neighborhood
The project sits at a key edge between UT and West Tampa, helping connect student life with a historic neighborhood undergoing visible transformation.

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Solution

Gensler and Commercial Street Partners created a hospitality-inspired student community that balances density, shared living, and strong connections to campus, downtown, and West Tampa.

The design uses building form, amenities, and material expression to create a distinctly place-based student experience. Larger multi-bedroom units support shared living, while elevated terraces and rooftop amenities—including pool, spa, fitness, recreation, and study spaces—bring hospitality qualities into everyday life. The building’s organization prioritizes views toward the university and downtown, with a more traditional expression facing West Tampa and a more vibrant courtyard character oriented toward campus. Ground-floor retail, bike infrastructure, scooter parking, and thoughtful vehicular separation reinforce a more pedestrian-friendly and future-ready residential model.

From brief to build: translating entitlement limits, neighborhood context, and student expectations into a compact, amenity-rich community that feels urban, connected, and distinctively Tampa.

The process required balancing density, livability, and context on a constrained urban site at the edge of campus and neighborhood. Gensler organized the project to maximize entitlement while staying below high-rise thresholds, using a cast-in-place podium and six-story residential stack to efficiently deliver beds, parking, retail, and amenities. The concept of “Interstice” guided the architectural response, with one façade addressing West Tampa’s brick-lined streets and another facing inward toward a more energetic student courtyard. Site planning also separated pedestrian activity from service and vehicle zones to support safer, more active street life.

Mapping the Urban Edge

Context analysis located the site at the seam between West Tampa, historic Dobyville, and the University of Tampa campus.

Impact

Apella on Newport expands quality student housing near UT while supporting walkable growth, stronger leasing appeal, and a more community-oriented residential experience.

By combining shared suites, strong amenities, and an urban site strategy, the project delivers immediate housing value while contributing to West Tampa’s evolving identity.

What Changed Because of This

01
Student Experience
Resort-style amenities, study lounges, larger shared suites, and rooftop gathering spaces create a more hospitality-driven living environment than conventional student housing.
02
Urban Connectivity
Bike infrastructure, scooter parking, future retail, and a walkable location strengthen daily connections between the university, downtown, and West Tampa.
03
Neighborhood Fit
The architecture balances heritage and change, using a context-sensitive street presence and a more vibrant inward-facing identity to mediate between campus and neighborhood.

Recognition

01

Tampa Bay Business Journal

Spotlighted the opening of Gensler-designed Apella on Newport, a new development addressing the growing need for student housing.

Team

Project Leadership

[FPO] Dawn Gunter

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[FPO] Dana Muller

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FAQ

01

What is Apella on Newport?

Apella on Newport is a student housing community near the University of Tampa designed by Gensler for Commercial Street Partners.

02

What amenities does Apella on Newport include?

Amenities include a pool and hot tub, rooftop clubhouse, fitness center, study lounges, outdoor gathering areas, bike storage, dog spa, and parking.

03

Why is Apella on Newport important for Tampa?

The project adds high-quality housing near UT while supporting walkability, urban density, and a stronger connection between campus life and West Tampa.

04

What types of units are available at Apella on Newport?

The community includes a mix of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 6-bedroom apartments designed to support larger shared living arrangements.

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Related Expertise

Residential Architecture - Core & Shell (New)

Apella on Newport sets a new standard for Tampa student housing, blending neighborhood heritage, hospitality-driven amenities, and walkable living steps from campus.

As enrollment grows and nearby housing stays limited, Tampa needed student living that could support demand while strengthening walkability, density, and neighborhood character.

Why This Matters

Gensler and Commercial Street Partners created a hospitality-inspired student community that balances density, shared living, and strong connections to campus, downtown, and West Tampa.

From brief to build: translating entitlement limits, neighborhood context, and student expectations into a compact, amenity-rich community that feels urban, connected, and distinctively Tampa.

Apella on Newport expands quality student housing near UT while supporting walkable growth, stronger leasing appeal, and a more community-oriented residential experience.

What Changed Because of This