Image courtesy of Sasaki

Redevelopment of Simmons University’s residential campus received its final local approval this week, clearing the way for 1.7 million square feet of new office, life science and multifamily buildings.

The project, a partnership between Simmons and developer Skanska was approved by the Boston Zoning Commission this week in its final major local review. Developers will begin designs of individual buildings later this year.

Known as Longwood Place, the project is the latest in which a local college is partnering with a private developer to maximize the value of sought-after real estate in neighborhoods attracting life science industry growth.

Wentworth Institute of Technology is partnering with local developers on a pair of proposed office-lab towers totaling 640,000 square feet to replace an athletic field on its campus on the Fenway-Mission Hill border.

The Simmons project was made possible by a project relocating Simmons’ residential space into a new 21-story tower on its main campus.

Designed by Sasaki, Longwood Place will include five new buildings including 44,000 square feet of retail and 15,000 square feet of community space, and $12 million in public realm improvements, while retaining 2.6 acres of open space.