Capstone Companies and Provident Resources Group held a grand opening for The Continuum, the newest addition to UF's Innovation Square, on Thursday afternoon.
The Continuum is a housing community developed for UF graduate students, faculty and staff, located between downtown Gainesville and the UF campus.
Worth more than $60 million, the community opened for occupancy in August with a total of 571 beds. The Continuum currently is not releasing its leasing numbers, said Jeremy Thompson, general manager of the complex.
Innovation Square is a 10-year development plan to bring together science, business opportunities and technology.
Despite light rain, people from UF, the Gainesville community and companies that helped develop the complex gathered outside of the residence Thursday to learn more about the housing community and Innovation Square.
Along with Jones, Norbert Dunkel, director of housing and residence education, Dave Kratzer, interim vice president for student affairs, and Thomas Hawkins, Gainesville city commissioner, spoke to an audience of about 65 people.
UF's efforts at developing graduate housing aimed at a richer student experience are becoming a model for other schools. Florida State University is planning to visit the complex, Dunkel said.
After the ceremony, an official ribbon-cutting took place, followed by tours of The Continuum.
Jeff Jones, executive vice president of Capstone Companies, said the complex was designed to develop UF's graduate, professional school and research programs.
"If you're living amongst high-achieving students who are academically ambitious, like-minded and on a career path," Jones said, "you're more likely to have success academically and in your life."
