University of Louisiana Lafayette Completes $100M Housing Renovation
Ambling University Development Group recently completed a two-year, $100 million housing initiative for the University of Louisiana Lafayette.
Valdosta, Ga.—Ambling University Development Group recently completed a two-year, $100 million housing initiative for the University of Louisiana Lafayette. The project transformed the campus into a living-learning environment for the student residents.
This project, which was completed in several phases, included adding 1,812 new beds, as well as renovating existing buildings. Additionally, a new 1,000-space parking deck with street-level commercial space was added.
The initiative was planned in such a way to allow for all the housing to be replaced or renovated without requiring any vacancies in the housing. Phase I included completing the 462-bed Baker Hall and Olivier Tower, which included 1,000 parking spaces. This phase was completed before the Fall 2012 semester. Phase II included Huger Hall, which added 468 beds, and was completed before the Spring 2012 semester. This allowed for nearby dorms to be vacated and demolished, allowing for the construction of the new Bonin and Corona Halls, adding 882 beds to the university. Bonin and Corona were completed before the Fall 2012 semester began.
The new communities feature amenities including a centralized two-story entry into each building with adjacent reception desk; lobby lounge; game room; laundry center; and community kitchen. Additionally, each floor is designed to create multiple living communities of 40 residents with an RA suite and private common area. One of the central halls has also been renovated and repurposed as a student activity and learning center with SMART classrooms, computer lab, fitness center, gaming lounge, convenience store and suites for visiting faculty and staff.
“A key success in this modernization of housing was our team’s ability to essentially double the number beds on these core campus sites while reducing the footprint of the original dormitories,” Jeremy Doss, vice president of business development, Ambling University Development Group, tells MHN. “This pursuit of sustainability also included the protection and preservation of more than 20 century live oak trees as well as an increase in the amount of green space within the communities.”
