When Life University’s president decided that one of the best ways to grow the university and enhance the education experience of its students was to provide on-campus housing, he turned to Young Contracting. The need for a 300-bed housing facility, complete with mailroom, furnished and unfurnished apartments, game room, computer lab, café and lounge areas was soon identified. Since the site selected by the University for the project was to encompass their largest student parking area, a 600-car, five level parking deck was also added to the list of must-haves. The project also boasted a child life development center and a central greening project. The original construction duration was initially established as an aggressive twelve month construction program from start of grading to student occupancy in order to meet the start of fall semester classes. Construction had barely begun when unstable soils, buried organic debris and rock were encountered potentially adding weeks to an already tight schedule. The construction team jumped into high gear, minimizing project impact by re-sequencing construction activity working with the site engineers to relocated utilities around large area of rock and redesigning the building foundation. The schedule and project schedules were closely monitored by weekly on-site owner and subcontractor meetings. The project was successfully completed in the summer of 2009 and ready for student occupancy approximately thirty days ahead of schedule and sustainability under budget.

U.S. Green Building Councils’ LEED Gold Certification

Life Dorm and Parking Deck: Place Properties; Niles Bolton

Life Child Development Center: Diversified Real Estate Development; Collins, Cooper, Carusi Architects

Life Central Greening Project/Amphitheater: Life University; HGOR Life Café: Diversified Real Estate Development; Collins, Cooper, Carusi Architects