Harris-Stowe State University's First Residence Hall and Student Center Construction Completed
August 11, 2006
Gillespie Hall Exterior |
Residence Hall Interior |
ST.LOUIS, MO - Construction is completed on Harris-Stowe State University's $15 million residence hall and student center. St. Louis-based Kwame Building Group (KWAME) provided pre-construction and construction management services on the university’s first student housing facility since its founding 150 years ago. KWAME serves as the program manager for all of Harris-Stowe’s capital improvement projects.
A dedication ceremony for the new Rev. Dr. William G. Gillespie Residence Hall and Student Center is scheduled for 10 a.m., Aug. 14 in the Gillespie Hall Amphitheatre, located directly in front of the residence hall.
The new 82,000-square-foot Gillespie Residence Hall was named for Rev. William Gillespie, the longest serving regent of the university’s Board of Regents. The hall is located on the north side of the campus at 3025 Laclede Ave.
“We were so honored and proud to be a part of this historic project,” said Craig Lucas, project executive for Kwame Building Group. “Harris-Stowe needed this expansion to keep up with its growing student population and to give students a place where they can meet, socialize, study and just feel at home.“
Construction on the facility began in July 2005 and was completed in August, in time for the Fall 2006 school year. The project’s tight schedule created somewhat of a challenge, said Lucas.
“We were able to overcome the scheduling challenge by using basic materials locally available in the industry, to prevent fabrication and transportation delays on the project. Also, pre-fabricated wall panels were used to speed the erection of the building core,” said Lucas. “The building is on a slab and constructed of brick veneer mixed with stucco.”
Harris-Stowe’s 57,000-square-foot, four-story student housing center can accommodate approximately 230 people. The spacious suites include four bedrooms and two full bathrooms, a kitchen and combined living/dining area. Each bedroom is private with large closets and enough room for a full bed and study desk. A fully furnished one-bedroom apartment unit for the managing director is located on the ground floor, along with an exercise room and laundry.
Half of the ground floor is devoted to the 25,000-square-foot student center. Open to the entire campus community, the student center includes a campus bookstore, computer lab, study area, student government suite, large conference room, health and counseling suite, and restrooms.
The student housing center is surrounded by the Emerson Performance Center to the northwest, the Southwestern Bell Library and Technology Center to the east and the main building on the south. A parking lot for 96 cars wraps around the east and north sides of the building.
The developer on the project was Collegiate Development. The architect was Kennedy Associates, Inc. and the building contractor was SM Wilson.
Kwame Building Group is a pure program and construction management firm providing estimating, scheduling, project planning, value engineering and other project management services as an independent advocate for owners and developers. Public and private sector projects include educational facilities, major airports nationwide, light-rail systems, hospitals and government facilities. For more information, visit www.kwamebuildinggroup.com or call 314.862.5344.
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Media Contact: Mary Schanuel
Synergy Group • 7915 Big Bend Blvd. • St. Louis, MO 63119
314.961.9772 • 314.961.9782 (fax)
www.synergy-pr.com
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