The Lakeside Residential Community accommodates 538 beds and is comprised of two four-story buildings of 225,621 total GSF, located on the north bank of Palmer Lake.

The architectural style of the buildings is complementary to the largely Georgian campus buildings, and matches the Riverside Residential Community. The living units were given notable views of either the surrounding natural landscape or of the beautiful University campus. The wooded hills overlooking the Black Warrior River are located north and west of the site, while the lake, which was improved as part of the Lakeside project, is located between the two complexes. Palmer Lake enriches the communities and includes landscaped walkways, fountains, and a new dam.

The Residence Halls were designed in an “apartment-style” format with generous common areas for studying and resident interaction. The communities included a majority of single-occupancy four-bedroom units, with a shared living room, a kitchenette and bathroom facilities. There are also two-bedroom units, also with a shared living room, kitchenette and bathroom. Each resident has their own closet located within their bedroom, and each suite shares an additional storage closet accessible from the corridor.

There are also individual single bedroom units designed for resident assistants, hall directors, and upperclassmen. There are accessible units available in each of the suite configurations to accommodate students with disabilities. All of the units and the corridors were carpeted to provide an attractive and welcoming living space as well as to supply additional sound buffering between the floors.

Each floor has shared common lounge spaces and study rooms, and either a community kitchen or laundry room, which are located on alternating floors. Each building also includes a computer lab and a vending area, and a well-appointed faculty director’s residence, each with two bedrooms.