Apartment Style Housing News-Articles
Apartment-Style Housing Construction Underway
Published July 2008
The construction process is underway for Meredith’s apartment-style housing project. The $22 million apartment project, which will be a housing option for upper-level students, is scheduled for completion in fall 2009.
Progress has already been made on the project, including the relocation of the portion of the campus street that ran through the project site. The building’s parking lots are being graded now and soon paving of the west parking lot and the access drive in front of the building will be complete. Concrete foundations are being completed now and the masonry walls are underway.
According to Project Manager Zane Dickerson, of Choate Construction Company, over the summer the construction team will be erecting the precast slab planks for the second and third floors and will be preparing to set roof trusses.
“Once we have the floor slabs erected we will begin all of the mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and sprinkler rough-ins on the inside of the building,” Dickerson said. “By early fall we will begin framing the interior walls and moving into the finishes portion as winter approaches.”
The College is building the apartments in an environmentally friendly manner and plans to pursue LEED certification for the building. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
Key elements being undertaken to achieve LEED certification include the following:
• dual flush toilets,
• “dark sky” friendly exterior light fixtures,
• drip irrigation,
• construction materials made from recycled products, and
• diverting construction waste from the landfill.
When complete, the three-story structure will be able to house up to 252 residents and will feature approximately 105,000 square feet of living and common space.
The apartment building will consist of 48 units, each containing four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and 30 units that contain two bedrooms and two bathrooms. All bedrooms are designed for single occupancy. Each apartment will include a living/dining area, a kitchen with full-sized appliances, and a full-sized washer and dryer.
The apartments will be the first residence facility built at Meredith since Heilman and Barefoot Residence Halls opened in the early 1970s. Projected growth of Meredith’s resident population provided an opportunity for the College to examine the feasibility of apartment-style housing for juniors and seniors. Meredith’s Vision 2010 strategic plan calls for a resident population of 1,500, nearly 500 more than Meredith’s current residence halls can house.
Apartment-Style Housing Approved
The Lux, November 2007
As previously reported, Meredith College has been exploring the option of building apartment-style housing on campus. Juniors and seniors would be eligible to live in the apartments.
As part of their two years of work related to this issue, Meredith’s Student Government Association recently submitted a proposal to the Academic and Campus Life Committee of the Board of Trustees recommending two social policy changes that would affect the on-campus apartments. Their proposal included the results of a student referendum, in which a majority of voters supported a policy allowing 24-hour male and female guest visitation and alcohol use by apartment residents age 21 and over.
During its fall meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the plans and the issuing of bonds to build apartment-style housing. The board also approved the following relating to visitation and alcohol use:
“The Academic and Campus Life Committee, in support of the Student Government Association, proposes that Meredith College students living in the proposed on-campus apartments should have the privilege of 24 hour male and female visitation. Additionally, Meredith College students who are 21 years of age and older and their guests, also of legal age, should have the privilege of possessing and consuming alcohol within the proposed on-campus apartments. Meredith College will establish rules that may limit these policies.”
College leaders believe the policy changes will allow upper-level students increased options along with increased responsibility.
“From their matriculation, Meredith College students are encouraged to become scholars, leaders and socially responsible adults,” said Vice President for College Programs Jean Jackson, ‘75. “Offering them developmental opportunities in on-campus living will support this growth.”
Meredith’s Vision 2010 strategic plan calls for a resident population of 1,500, nearly 500 more than Meredith’s current residence halls can house. Many colleges that are similar in size to Meredith offer apartment-style housing options.
Jackson says the apartment option will likely increase the number of upper-level students living on campus, which will benefit the campus community.
“Because nearly three-fourths of our seniors currently live off campus, we expect with the building of the apartments to see a reversal of a decades' long trend in upperclasswomen moving off campus,” Jackson said.
“With their return, we will also recoup their leadership, their serving as role models, and their energy at nights and on weekends, helping to make the campus a much more appealing place for all students to live, learn, work and serve.”
Apartment Style Housing
The Lux, October 2007
As reported in the Spring 2007 issue of “Meredith Magazine,” Meredith is exploring the option of building apartment-style housing on campus.
Meredith’s Vision 2010 strategic plan calls for a resident population of 1,500, nearly 500 more than Meredith’s current residence halls can house. The need for additional housing has provided an opportunity for the College to examine the feasibility of apartment-style housing for juniors and seniors. Many colleges that are similar in size to Meredith offer this option.
Since the residency requirement for upper level students changed in the mid-1990s, an increasing number of juniors and seniors have chosen to move off campus. A comprehensive feasibility study, which was conducted in the spring of 2006 by Brailsford and Dunlavey, found that students move off campus because they desire more privacy, more space and increased freedom. Visitation and alcohol policies were cited by students who moved off campus as important factors in their decision not to continue living on campus.
As part of their two years of work related to this issue, Meredith’s Student Government Association recently held a referendum to collect student opinion on two potential policy changes that would affect the proposed on-campus apartments.
The students were asked to vote on the following:
- Meredith College students living in the proposed on-campus apartments should have the privilege of 24-hour male and female guest visitation.
- Meredith College students who are 21 years of age and older and their guests, also of legal age, should have the privilege of possessing and consuming alcohol within the proposed on-campus apartments.
A total of 716 students voted in the referendum with a majority voting in support of these potential policy changes. On the issue of 24-hour visitation, 80 percent of voters supported the policy and 18.8 percent did not. Sixty-five percent of voters supported the proposed policy on alcohol and 34.1 percent did not. Four voters abstained.
SGA leaders presented their proposal to the Board of Trustees’ Academic and Campus Life committee on September 28. The Board of Trustees’ Business and Finance Committee will meet on October 8 to review the financing and building proposals for the on-campus apartments.
During its fall meeting, scheduled for October 25-26, the Meredith College Board of Trustees will consider the proposed plans for building apartment-style housing and policy changes relating to the new residences.
If approved, the new apartments would be available beginning Fall 2009. The policy changes, if approved, would only affect the students living in the apartments. Meredith’s residence halls will remain alcohol-free.
The Board of Trustees’ fall meeting takes place after the publication deadline for the Fall issue of “Meredith Magazine.” Updates on the apartment-style housing proposals will be available on Meredith’s web site this fall, with continuing coverage in future issues of “Meredith Magazine.”
Meredith Exploring Apartment-Style Living Options
By Melyssa Allen
With enrollment goals outlined in Meredith’s Vision 2010 strategic plan calling for a resident student population beyond the campus’ current capacity, a College committee is exploring the option of building apartment-style housing on campus.
The strategic plan calls for a 2010 resident population of 1,500, nearly 500 more than Meredith’s current residence halls can house. The need for additional housing has provided an opportunity for the College to examine the feasibility of apartment-style housing for upper classes. Many colleges that are similar in size to Meredith offer this option.
In spring of 2006 the College, working with the consulting firm Brailsford and Dunlavey, conducted a student housing feasibility study regarding the additional apartment styled student housing. The study included exploring the local market, analyzing financial implications, and soliciting student opinion through surveys and focus groups. The results of the feasibility study were presented to the Board of Trustees at their June 2006 retreat.
The Board has approved funds to continue the planning process to include site selection, review of architect and contractor proposals, analyzing funding options, and discussions of housing policies. A committee made up of students, trustees, faculty, staff and administrators is working with Brailsford and Dunlavey to develop a comprehensive proposal to present to the Board in Fall 2007. The new housing would be available beginning Fall 2009.
Many alumnae have fond memories of living on campus for all four years, but since the residency requirement for upper level students changed in the mid-1990s, an increasing number of juniors and seniors have chosen to move off campus. Apartment-style options would alleviate some of the reasons students cite when deciding to become commuters.
“One of the main reasons students give is the desire for privacy and more space, as well as a combination of wanting more independent living,” said Director of Residence Life Heidi LeCount.
Dean of Students Ann Gleason said having special housing opportunities for juniors and seniors will provide “something to graduate to” because while freshmen and sophomores may need more supervision, upper level students are ready for more responsibility.
“If we can provide some different options, that will help retain students on campus, which will add to the overall Meredith experience by making sure there are more student leaders and upper class students living on campus,” Gleason said.
(Reprinted from Meredith Magazine, Spring 2007)
