UC Davis celebrated a milestone on June 27 with the grand opening of Anova Aggie Square, a six-story smart residential complex that brings on-campus student housing to its Sacramento campus for the first time. Located in the heart of the Aggie Square innovation district on Stockton Boulevard, the 199,000-square-foot Innovative Living community welcomed nearly 100 students from the UC Davis School of Medicine, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis and other graduate programs. The students joined a handful of other residents already living at Anova Aggie Square.

The new apartment complex, developed and managed by GMH Communities in partnership with Wexford Science & Technology, includes 190 fully furnished apartment units and 252 beds. Of those, UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services master-leases 49 units, offering 103 beds at below-market rates. The remainder of the units are leased directly through GMH Communities and are available to the public, with priority going to UC Davis affiliates.

As the newest development in GMH Communities’ national portfolio of Innovative Living projects, Anova blends student and residential housing elements with tailored technology, amenities, and services to foster a modern live-work environment. Students benefit from flexible leasing terms, in-unit washers and dryers, and thoughtfully designed amenities like soundproof working pods, wellness lounges, and communal spaces geared toward academic and social success.

Creating a new community

As students arrived with their belongings and met new roommates, they were also greeted by volunteers and university leaders who helped welcome them into their new home. Piri Ackerman, associate dean for Student Affairs and Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the School of Nursing, called the move-in both “symbolic” and “transformational.”

“Now, nursing students are living alongside medical and graduate students, creating a vibrant, interprofessional community,” Ackerman said. “This shared space becomes fertile ground for collaboration, where late-night conversations spark early-stage innovations that can reshape the future of care.”

Sean Muñoz, interim associate dean for the School of Medicine’s Office of Student and Resident Diversity, also recognized the sense of connection that Anova Aggie Square will create.

"Living on campus at Anova Aggie Square gives our students a unique opportunity to immediately start building community with faculty, staff and importantly, students pursuing a career in medicine and other health care professions," he said.

For many incoming students, Anova Aggie Square represented more than just a place to live, it offered proximity, convenience and a sense of connection. First-year medical student Geeta Min, who opted to lease a unit after a virtual tour, cited practical reasons for choosing Anova Aggie Square: “It’s really close to campus and a new facility. I wanted something more modern,” she said. “There’s also the added bonus of included utilities and having a washer and dryer in the unit.”

Building the future at Aggie Square

Anova Aggie Square is not just a housing development; it’s a cornerstone of the university’s broader vision for the 11-acre Aggie Square innovation district. The building plays a key role in the Community Benefits Partnership Agreement, helping address local housing challenges while enhancing educational access and opportunity.

By embedding students in the physical heart of innovation and care delivery, Anova Aggie Square stands at the crossroads of real-time collaboration and learning.

For Min’s roommate and fellow first-year medical student, Alyssa Bercasio, this convergence was more than symbolic, it was also deeply personal. Her decision to pursue medicine began with her father’s kidney transplant at UC Davis Health seven years ago; a transformative experience that now comes full circle.

“My dad’s experience revealed to me how medicine not only gives patients a second chance at life but gives their families a second chance at living life with them,” Bercasio said. “Moving to Anova and seeing the medical facility from my window serves as a full-circle reminder of why I chose this path, and I’m filled with gratitude to be able to continue this journey.”

Anova Aggie Square is more than a student housing complex, it’s an intentional step toward a future where education, innovation and community seamlessly intersect. As a key component of the evolving Aggie Square ecosystem, it exemplifies UC Davis’ commitment to building a living-learning environment that is inclusive, collaborative and future-focused.