Rhode Partners designed the Villas on Rio Student Housing with thoughtful architectural elements and a creative design in Austin, Texas.

Villas on Rio, a 284-unit student housing high-rise in the heart of University of Texas at Austin’s West Campus neighborhood, opened this past fall and spans 19 floors. The first and second floors serve as flexible study and lounge areas with a mezzanine overlooking the lobby.

The tower wraps around the historic Kenney House, a two-story Victorian home facing West 22nd Street in the dense neighborhood. Full-height glass windows on the lower levels of the project feature inclusive views of the historic building.

A dramatic, angled curtain wall is incorporated into the tower’s north side, responding to the 62-degree required setback plane. On the façade, the exterior custom-formed, faceted panels reference this setback plane, sparking an angular language continued throughout the tower’s interior architecture.

Luxury amenities include vast fitness rooms, a spa, and therapeutic features to elevate healthy living for tenants. Floorplans range from spacious studios to expansive townhomes with single and double-occupancy options, including efficiency “pods” that support density and affordability while maximizing square footage. With four levels of underground parking and 700 bedrooms, the project thoughtfully accommodates the growing need for more housing near the University of Texas campus.

Design: Rhode Partners
Interior Design: Rhode Partners in collaboration with Ariel Bleich
Photography: Jason O’Rear