Balfour Beatty delivered this 216,770-square-foot student housing complex for repeat client George
Mason University via a design-build contract. The project consists of two buildings – both six and seven stories tall, with a total of 609 student beds. About half of the units are apartment-style residences with kitchens and the other half are suite-style dorms. The project was designed and built to LEED Silver standards, and the project team used many building information modeling (BIM) processes to improve project quality and efficiency.
The buildings have cast-in-place concrete structures with durable façades of brick, metal panels and glass curtain wall, and standing seam metal roofs. Balfour Beatty’s scope of work included finishing the resulting quad area between the buildings with pavers, terraced lawns and bench seating. Additionally, the project involved extensive underground utility relocations, including moving the campus’ main electrical and telecommunications feeder lines.
The new residence gives students a unique, on-campus living experience with double-height common areas, spacious study and lounge areas, and extensive daylighting. The courtyard between the buildings provides exterior programming space with formal and informal seating areas.