VENTURE TO BUILD $26.5M STUDENT HOUSING

CARROLLTON, GA. — A public-private venture between the University System of Georgia Board of Regents and the University of West Georgia Foundation has plans to build a $26.5 million housing and dining complex at the University of West Georgia. RA-LIN and Associates has been selected to provide construction management services. The architect is Atlanta-based HADP. Two existing residence halls, Downs Hall and Boykin Hall, will be razed as well as the Art Annex building. These structures will be replaced with two new residence halls totaling 460 beds and a 30,000-square-foot dining facility with seating for 320. Plans also call for construction of office space for university housing and residence life staff within the dining facility. In addition, Bowdon Hall, a 290-bed residence hall, will be renovated to include ADA accessibility, updated bathrooms, wireless Internet and other improvements. Construction is scheduled to begin in July with a completion target of August 2013.