VSU Celebrates Residence Hall 'Topping Out' Milestone

Valdosta - On March 25, Ambling University Development Group and Juneau Construction Company hosted a “Topping Out” ceremony to mark a milestone in the construction of Valdosta State University’s newest residence hall. VSU administrators, faculty, staff, construction subcontractors, and community representatives had an opportunity to tour the inside of the residence hall that is scheduled for completion in August 2008.

Construction began August 2007 on the 157,354-square-foot building that will house 513 students in 191 units. The residence hall is comprised of two-bedroom suites that are a mix of two and four person units. The exterior façade is designed to complement the existing Spanish Mission architecture of the campus.

“Increasing the number of on-campus housing facilities was one of the primary elements within VSU’s revised master plan and allows us to move to our goal of housing 25 percent of our students on campus,” VSU President Ronald M. Zaccari said. “VSU’s mission strategically identifies the need to increase student population to 16,000 by 2020. Construction of new residence halls is vital to achieving this goal and greatly enhances the quality of life on our campus now and in the future.”

The courtyard area will include landscaping, a fountain and extensive use of pavers with an outdoor seating area adjacent to the 8,970-square-foot dining facility. The ground floor will include a student mailroom with 2,500 boxes, the university’s student newspaper and radio station, and other student services. Additional amenities include a game room, lounge, meeting room and study rooms on each floor.

“The replacement for Hopper Hall is the first facility we will open in a series of eight projects that will be completed within the next two years,” said Rob Kellner, director of Auxiliary Services and campus project manager. “These projects constituting in excess of $150 million will transform the campus as we grow to meet the needs of our enrollment.”

For more information, contact Lynn Hortman, manager of marketing and public relations for VSU’s Auxiliary Services at 229-333-5706 or rlhortma@valdosta.edu.