WSSU breaks ground on Phase II of $17.6 million student housing

Winston-Salem State University broke ground today on a new $17.6 million privatized student housing facility, located near the tennis courts beside the university’s Albert H. Anderson Conference Center. The 130-unit, 404-bed facility will contain approximately 135,000 square feet and be located on the WSSU campus in the proximity of the Wilson Hall residential facility and the Anderson Conference Center. The facility will be designed to feature a combination of fully furnished four-bed apartments, single and two-bed suites and two resident manager apartments. Each bedroom will be wired for cable TV, high-speed Internet and voice data. Additionally, the entire facility will have wireless accessibility. The facility is being developed by Fayetteville, NC-based Firstfloor, Inc., and is scheduled to open in August 2005. “This is the second such project we (the university) have undertaken in our effort to remain competitive in attracting the very brightest students. We will do what we must to meet the growing needs of our students for adequate housing,” said Martin. The facility will contain 84 apartments that provide double occupancy bedrooms with a shared bathroom for each bedroom. Each apartment will also have a living room, kitchen and dining area. The facility will also contain 27 two-bedroom suites, which will provide two bedrooms with single occupancy and a shared bathroom for each suite. There are 17 one-bedroom suites, which will provide for single occupancy accommodations. Each suite has a kitchenette and common living room area. In addition to the living/learning accommodations, Phase II will have a fitness center, student lounge with large screen TV, kitchen area, laundry area, vending area, computer lab, study areas, main lobby, management offices, and two customized resident manager apartments. It will also have a well-landscaped courtyard area for the enjoyment of the residents and related parking. The design and engineering incorporates the latest fire and safety systems, with fully addressable capability and will be built in compliance with the North Carolina Department of Insurance and North Carolina State Construction Office. Phase II is also designed to compliment existing architectural styles on campus and to accentuate the typography of the site.