The $15 million, 82,000-square-foot Gillespie Resident Hall and Student Center is Harris Stowe State University’s first student housing facility since it was founded 150 years ago.

KWAME provided pre-construction and construction management services on the project and currently serves as program manager for several Harris-Stowe capital improvement projects.

Construction on the Gillespie Resident Hall and Student Center began in July 2005 and was completed in August 2006, in time for the Fall semester. To prevent fabrication and transportation delays, KWAME sourced basic materials locally and used pre-fabricated wall panels to speed erection of the building core.

The 57,000-square-foot, four-story housing center can accommodate approximately 230 students. Each spacious suite includes four bedrooms and two full bathrooms, a kitchen and a combined living/dining area. Each bedroom is private, with large closets and room for a full bed and study desk.

Half of the ground floor is devoted to the 25,000-square-foot student center with a campus bookstore, computer lab, study area, student government suite, large conference room, health and counseling suite, and restrooms. An exercise room, laundry and a fully furnished one-bedroom apartment for the managing director also are located on the ground floor.