Virginia State University, Magnolia Residence Hall
Petersburg, Virginia
Overview
Virginia State University’s Magnolia Residence Hall is a 110,000-square-foot student housing facility developed to accommodate historic enrollment growth and expand on-campus living opportunities. The University’s first new residence hall in more than a decade provides 454 beds with single- and double-suite accommodations, study lounges, a multi-purpose assembly space, and other student-centered amenities designed to support academic success, community, and campus engagement. Thompson Consulting Engineers provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design, Construction Administration, and Commissioning services for the Design-Build project, coordinating building systems with an accelerated construction approach that utilized prefabricated structural components to advance work concurrently. Designed, permitted, and constructed on an exceptionally compressed schedule, Magnolia Residence Hall expands VSU’s housing capacity while providing a modern residential environment that supports the University’s continued growth.
Challenges
- Coordinated MEP design and construction within an accelerated Design-Build schedule that advanced permitting, sitework, utilities, procurement, and building construction concurrently.
- Integrated building systems with a precast construction approach that required extensive coordination of prefabricated components, utilities, and interior infrastructure.
- Maintained safe campus access and minimized disruption while construction proceeded on a constrained site adjacent to occupied student housing.
Goals
- Expanded on-campus housing capacity to accommodate Virginia State University’s historic enrollment growth and increasing demand for student housing.
- Provided reliable, efficient MEP systems that supported modern residential, study, gathering, and student-support environments.
- Provided reliable, efficient MEP systems that supported modern residential, study, gathering, and student-support environments.
Project Team
- Owner: Virginia State University
- Architect: Niles Bolton Archiects
- Structural Engineer: Speight Marshall Francis
- Civil Engineer: Timmons Group
- Contractor: SB Ballard
Results
- Delivered a 110,000-square-foot residence hall adding 454 beds to VSU’s on-campus housing portfolio. Virginia State University
- Completed the facility on an accelerated schedule of approximately 13 months from contract award to occupancy through collaborative Design-Build delivery and extensive use of precast construction. S.B. Ballard
- Expanded VSU’s residential capacity with modern suite-style accommodations and student-centered spaces that supported academic success, community engagement, and continued enrollment growth. Virginia State University
