If it feels like the University of Nevada, Reno has stretched its reach beyond campus and into the city’s core, that’s entirely by design. Since stepping into UNR’s top job in 2021, former Nevada governor and now university president Brian Sandoval has made it his mission to physically and symbolically bridge the gap between campus and downtown Reno, a divide long separated by Interstate 80.

Sandoval’s strategy centers on creating a more connected, livable university environment that spills naturally into the surrounding city. One of the most visible signs of that ambition is the Grand Sierra Resort Arena, a 10,000-seat venue that will soon serve as the home court for Wolf Pack men’s basketball. UNR’s logo will even adorn the roof, a bold signal of the university’s growing presence in the city.

At the same time, UNR has been strategically buying land south of the freeway. In 2024, the university purchased 16 parcels, including residential properties, to create University Village, a new community of affordable housing for graduate students, faculty, and staff. City officials plan to complement the project with better bike and pedestrian routes, easing access between campus and downtown.

And UNR’s expansion isn’t stopping there. August saw the opening of the John Tulloch Business Building, a $155 million, 128,000-square-foot facility for the College of Business, one of the largest construction projects in the school’s history. Located at Ninth Street and University Way, the building anchors UNR’s presence on the edge of downtown and underscores the university’s growing investment in modern, forward-facing infrastructure.

Reno itself is in the middle of a transformation, with casino operators and developers pouring billions into entertainment complexes, renovated hotel rooms, and new nightlife corridors. Sandoval sees UNR’s housing and business expansions as part of that same narrative, a city and campus rising together.

“This is the perfect time for Reno and the university to connect,” Sandoval said, noting that new housing and retail near University Village could bring in restaurants, shops, and perhaps even a grocery store. UNR is also considering a second housing project nearby, though details are still being finalized.

The demand certainly exists. “We have a lot of new student housing along North Virginia Street, but they're all full, and so is our on-campus housing,” Sandoval said. “If you read the data, students do better the closer they live to campus.”

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve agrees, calling the university’s expansion a win for the city. As downtown continues to evolve from a gaming-centric strip into a more balanced urban district, UNR’s presence brings energy, economic vitality, and a steady stream of young residents who want to live, study, and work in the same community.

For Sandoval, the freeway that once marked a physical boundary between campus and city is now something else entirely, a bridge to the next chapter of Reno’s growth.

The university will see an influx of new students in the coming year, adding to a student body that already numbers above 20,000. To meet the needs of this growing population, the university and the City of Reno have initiated multiple construction projects in recent years, including the Mathewson University Gateway District. Situated at the south end of campus, this project will transform the area between the campus and downtown Reno.

The Gateway Parking Complex brings 800+ new parking spots to campus, and a new hotel/conference center, which will accommodate more visitors. Plus, a state-of-the-art, 120,000-square-foot College of Business will serve students, faculty, staff and the community.

The new University Mathewson Gateway, with its iconic location and design, is the next great chapter in the emergence of the university and the city as the epicenter of innovation in the west.

Connection, revitalization and an inspiring corridor to campus - the Mathewson Gateway Project is about more than beautiful new buildings; it’s about bridging the community together. Here the Wolf Pack family will discover and enjoy a place of inspiration in the heart of the Reno-Tahoe area.

A joint project from the University and City of Reno, the Mathewson Gateway Project transitions between the historic University campus and urban edge of downtown Reno to leverage social encounters, drive community engagement and foster economic growth.

It will catalyze the invigoration of Northern Reno between I-80 and Downtown Reno while expanding the University beyond its southern boundary; therefore, creating a much-needed link between the University and the City of Reno via an urban University environment replete with a mix of academic and research uses.

To prepare for a vibrant, shared future, the University and the City joined together to make the best use of the zone between the University and the City of Reno. The University Foundation acquired 17 private properties and carefully planned what is now the Mathewson University Gateway District.

To complement these trends, the university has designed cutting-edge degree programs in advanced manufacturing, business, cybersecurity and engineering.

Plus, downtown Reno’s Innevation Center supports spin-off startups and high-tech companies. It’s no wonder big-name brands like Tesla, Amazon, Panasonic, Hamilton, Elemental LED, Ridgeline, Arrow, GE, Intuit and ThyssenKrupp have chosen Northern Nevada for their operations. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to companies relocating to the region.

The University of Nevada, Reno is planning a new 400-unit apartment complex for faculty, staff and students on an empty 2.7 acre lot just south of campus. The housing project at 600 University Way — formerly 600 N. Center St. — is in downtown Reno between East Sixth and East Seventh streets. 

UNR President Brian Sandoval told the Board of Regents, the governing body over the state's public colleges, about the plans for studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments Friday. The project is being developed with nonprofit Scenic Investments. Scenic owns the land but everything will transfer to UNR upon retirement of the bonds to pay for the project. Sandoval has long said affordable student and staff housing is an issue for the growing university. "This project will be financially self-sustaining and independent and the university will make no direct investment," he told the board. 

In its presentation to regents, UNR described the housing project with Scenic Investments as a “P3 project,” which typically involves securing financing from private partners for a public project.

The free flow of ideas, people and innovation will continue to define Northern Nevada moving forward, and it underscores a rich history of cooperation.

The University of Nevada, Reno and the City of Reno have partnered since 1885, and we look forward to another century of collaboration and cooperation.