UMass Lowell and community leaders have commissioned a new University Suites residence hall, expected to cost roughly $54 million. 

The 148,000-square-foot hall will include four- and six-bed units, kitchen/lounge areas, study rooms and an outdoor courtyard.

Slated to open in fall 2013, University Suites will be the first new residence hall constructed on campus since 1989 and represents a new model of campus housing in an all-suites building.

The residence hall will accommodate 472 students, propelling the university to its goal of a 50-50 split between resident and commuter students, a priority identified by Chancellor Marty Meehan.

The UMass Building Authority has oversight of the project, which is being managed by Joslin, Lesser + Associates Inc. of Watertown. The building’s architect is ADD Inc. of Boston. Walsh Brothers of Boston is the building’s construction manager