FREAR HALL STUDENT HOUSING

The University of Hawaii at Manoa’s on-campus student housing initiative is focused on providing new suite-style accommodations for a minimum of 800 students. The work is being accomplished in multiple phases with design, construction, financing—and possibly management—provided by a private sector development team. Infrastructure and site development to accommodate the project is included in the scope of work. The initial phase consisted of master planning the entire project and developing a concept design for Phase I, replacement of the early 1950s low-rise Frear Hall.

The new 196,200 square foot Frear Hall Student Housing is a 12-story H-shaped tower designed to attain LEED® Silver certification. Suites contain single and double bedrooms, two to four beds per unit, with no more than four students sharing one bathroom. Baths are compartmented to allow simultaneous usage of fixtures. Common areas within suites give opportunities for student socialization in a semi-independent living environment. Telephone, wireless data, and cable TV ports are provided for each resident.

Interior and exterior spaces were developed to encourage and facilitate social interaction among residents. Building amenities include a social lounge, fitness center, game room, vending areas, computer room, small group study rooms, a 75-person conference room, student laundry and storage areas, and mailboxes for letters and packages. Property management functions and trash/recycling rooms are also provided. Other amenities include an outdoor barbecue area and secure covered storage for bicycles, mopeds and surfboards. Security features include a staffed 24-hour front desk, card access at exterior entries, elevators, and to living units and bedrooms, and CCTV cameras at lobbies, elevators, and all other critical areas.

CDS is the prime design firm on the American Campus Communities team, which was chosen from among five groups invited to develop proposals for this project during a pre-qualification process.