The McAlister Residence Hall is a 130-unit suite style facility. Each suite includes four bedrooms, common area and kitchen. Each suite includes wireless technology. The building includes a Student Study Room/Library, adjacent dining facilities and a 671-space adjacent parking deck. The design reflects Charleston’s historic character mixing stucco and brick. The structure consists of CMU load bearing walls with precast hollow core decking.
This 118,000 sf facility is comprised of three six story buildings and two four-story buildings. The project is located in a dense urban neighborhood. With a commitment to complete for occupancy in August 2003, Holder developed an overall project schedule that included the extensive design review and public approval process required to receive a building permit. During the four month permitting process, the City of Charleston architectural review created design changes that were incorporated into the project after the overall budget was set. Holder anticipated the potential for changes during the permitting process and identified cost savings solutions to balance the changes within the original budget. Once construction began, constant communication between the team members facilitated a smooth construction process, with the facility opening with time to spare prior to students moving in for the school year.