Press Releases

C.F. Evans & Company are proud to be Finalists of the NAHB

March 1, 2007

Hillcrest Student Housing Construction Project

Whether constructing a neighborhood or apartment complex, a common goal is to create a sense of community within the plot boundaries. When we developed student campus housing for our client, the borders of the project were stretched beyond the blueprint, across campus and into the community. Our client realized that housing was insufficient for the demographics of their current students. The average student age on this campus is 37 and most have between three and four children. Previous student housing facilities were designed for young, single people.  For several years the school had been acquiring residential property adjacent to campus and eventually owned the homes that lined an entire street. This was the ideal location for the new student living quarters. We joined our client and began a dialogue with city officials and campus neighbors to develop a project that was more than apartments but also complemented the neighborhood.  The resolution provided for our client to enclose the city street with an attractive aluminum fence. This was essential to the creation of the village the school envisioned.  To further perpetuate unity, an inviting courtyard plays host to picnic and barbeque areas, walking paths and playground facilities. To continue that concept, each apartment features a balcony that overlooks the courtyard--this promotes the Southern tradition of neighborly exchanges.  But the project couldn't stop at the village gate, it was important for these apartments to share characteristics of the school. This was achieved through the use of stone that matches that found throughout the campus. Finally, to address the needs of the neighbors, each unit was designed to look like a two story home—thus maintaining the residential feeling of the area.
 
The success of this project went beyond merely constructing student housing. We were charged with the development of an apartment complex that embraced the true sense of the word community—a place that reached beyond its borders and into the surrounding neighborhoods.  Having worked with this client in the past, we understood what they wanted to achieve as an institution.  We knew it was important to preserve the aesthetic integrity of the school, provide the students with comfortable housing and maintain good community relations.  Our path was narrow yet clear. Our first steps were slow as we began working with the city and surrounding neighborhoods. We overcame many adversities including budget, design and funding. While we incurred these challenges and made revisions, the product derived was better than first conceived.  We were able, within budget, to create student housing that seamlessly fit into a residential area and that aesthetically related to the campus. This complex, not only provides adequate living space for students and their families, but features inviting outdoor commons areas that encourage neighborly interaction.

C.F. Evans & Company have demostrated that they excel in Student Housing Construction.  The Hillcrest project in Columbia, SC,  is only one example, but it depicts many ways why C.F Evans is a leader in the construction industry, and specifically in student housing construction as well.  
 
Here are just a few ways in which this particular project was exceptional:
 
The seminary needed modern student housing, however the location of the new facilities bordered residential homes. Community members were concerned that an apartment complex would look out of place among their houses. We effectively created a product that not only met the needs of our client, but also provided comfortable housing for the students and maintained the residential integrity for the surrounding neighbors by making the buildings resemble two story traditional homes.

Our initial figures were $1.5 million more than the seminary had budgeted. We were able to modify our design and still provide the school with facilities that had the same feeling as our initial proposal that was well within the parameters of the school's finances.
 
Once we were approved to begin this project we successfully completed 10 student housing buildings with 40 apartments in 10 short months.  This included site development with infrastructure.


For more information contact: jkeith@cfevans.com