This session shares the untold story behind launching a $50 million, 400-bed residence hall project at a rural regional institution—The University of Tennessee at Martin. As a campus without the clout or resources of a flagship university, we faced unique challenges in gaining system-wide support, navigating complex approval processes, and building the financial case for investment in campus housing. This session focuses on the crucial (and often overlooked) realities that institutions must grapple with long before breaking ground: aligning stakeholders, overcoming internal politics, managing consultants, surviving proforma revisions, and preparing for high-stakes board meetings. We’ll share the real talk no one gives you upfront, offering practical strategies, lessons learned, and cautionary tales that can benefit any campus preparing for a major facilities initiative—especially those that aren’t always in the spotlight.