CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) — Construction is underway on Mosaic, a new student housing development rising at 401 S. Wright St. near the University of Illinois’s Engineering Campus.
The 283-unit, 371-bed community is being built on the former site of the University Place Christian Church and an attached student apartment building, both of which were demolished as part of the redevelopment. The site has drawn local attention in recent months as plans advanced to transform the long-standing property.
Developed by Fairlawn, Mosaic represents a major reinvestment in the area, replacing a familiar landmark with a modern residential community designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s UIUC students while contributing to the surrounding neighborhood.
Plans for Mosaic include a range of amenities such as a sky lounge, outdoor terrace, fitness center, collaboration and study spaces, and a landscaped courtyard. The property will be professionally managed by Smile Student Living, Fairlawn’s student housing affiliate, which oversees multiple communities in the UIUC market.
Fairlawn is leading development and delivery of the project and cites a history of completing student housing projects on schedule. The company most recently delivered 608 Chalmers and 404 Clark, both completed on time and fully leased in August 2025.
The project was designed by Mode 3 Architecture and is being constructed by Wells and Wells Construction, teams with extensive experience delivering student housing developments near the UIUC campus. Construction financing is provided by Wintrust Commercial Real Estate and Associated Bank.
“Mosaic builds on Fairlawn’s extensive development track record at the University of Illinois, which is not only one of the premier public universities in the country but home to one of the nation’s top engineering programs,” said Jason Barickman, Fairlawn’s chief investment officer. “We are proud to continue that momentum with a community that elevates the student experience while reflecting our standards of quality and care.”
The name Mosaic honors the Mosaic web browser developed at UIUC, the first widely adopted multimedia browser that helped shape the modern internet. The name also reflects the concept of distinct elements coming together to form a unified community, combining private residences, shared amenities and the surrounding campus environment.
First student move-ins at Mosaic are planned for August 2027.
