There’s a new address for student housing near UF, and it’s finally ready for move-in. Alma Gainesville is the first building to open inside Archer Place, the new mixed-use district rising on Archer Road just 1.2 miles from campus. Brand-new, fully furnished, all-inclusive, and built for students who want more than four walls and a lease: this is what off-campus living in Gainesville was supposed to look like all along.
A New Building in a City Full of Old Ones
Most student housing in Gainesville has been around for a while. You’ve probably toured some of it: the carpet that has seen a decade of move-ins, the appliances that were “updated” years ago, the pool that looks better in photos. Alma is different in the most basic way possible. Nobody has lived here before you.
Every apartment at Alma comes with LVP flooring throughout, oversized windows that let in real daylight, quartz countertops on oversized kitchen islands, and stainless steel appliances. The furniture is new, the 55″ TV in the living room is new, the full-size bed in your room is new. Being first in a building means every finish is exactly as it was designed, and that’s a rare thing to find at a student price point.
What “All-Inclusive” Actually Means Here
Student budgets don’t need surprises. At Alma, your rent covers electric, water, gas, trash, and high-speed internet, and your apartment comes fully furnished in both the common areas and the bedrooms. You bring your clothes, your laptop, and your roommates (or let us match you with some). Everything else is already in place.
Leases are individual, by the bedroom, which means you’re only ever responsible for your own room and your own rent. If a roommate moves out or transfers, that’s not your problem to solve. And with the in-unit washer and dryer, private bathrooms, and walk-in closets, the day-to-day logistics of student life get a lot simpler.
Built Around the Way Students Actually Live
Alma’s floor plans were designed with one question in mind: where do students spend their time? The answer is usually “somewhere between studying and hanging out,” so most apartments include a dedicated den in addition to the main living room. That extra room becomes a study nook, a gaming setup, a work-from-home station, or a second lounge when friends come over.
Downstairs, the community brings that same idea into shared space. Dedicated study pods come with comfortable workspaces, a complimentary coffee station, and free printing, so finals week doesn’t require a trip to Library West at midnight. Alma is also pet-friendly, so your four-legged roommate is welcome too.
1.2 Miles From Campus, Across the Street From Everything Else
Location is where Alma pulls ahead. UF is 1.2 miles away, close enough to bike, scoot, or drive in minutes, and the RTS Route 38 bus stops nearby and is free with your Gator1 ID. For grad students and medical professionals, UF Health, the Vet School, and the Dental School are all a quick trip away.
Then there’s Archer Road itself. Butler Town Center is 5 minutes away, Celebration Pointe is 9, and the best shopping and dining in Gainesville is essentially across the street. As the rest of Archer Place is completed around Alma, more restaurants, retail, and resort-style amenities will land right at your doorstep, all within one walkable district.
Secure, Convenient, and Ready Now
Key fob controlled access, courtesy patrol, elevators, and reserved scooter and car parking are the details that make a building easy to live in every single day. They’re also the details parents ask about first, and Alma has clear answers for all of them.
Most importantly, Alma is open and leasing now. For Spring 2027, Alma offers a 7-month lease option, and the short-term lease fee is waived on 7-month leases signed before Spring Move-In Day on January 4, 2027. Planning further ahead? Rooms for Fall 2027 are already available, and the best floor plans always go first.
Your Room Is Waiting
Alma Gainesville is the first building open at Archer Place, and it sets the standard for everything that follows: brand-new construction, all-inclusive pricing, individual leases, and a location that keeps campus, UF Health, and Archer Road within minutes.
Schedule your tour today and see your room before anyone else claims it.
📍 Leasing Office: 3155 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 📞 (352) 764-6405 🌐 livealma.com/alma-gainesville/
Live with Soul. Live at Alma.