A longtime dream of student housing located on the campus of East Georgia College became reality on Thursday with a groundbreaking for a new 200 bed residential facility. Faculty, staff, students, EGC Foundation members, local legislators, University System guests, construction teams and friends of the college gathered in overwhelming numbers to support the addition of a student housing complex to the landscape of the college. 

 

The complex, located on North campus, will add a new dimension to what has always been, since 1973, a commuter college. It will bring about many changes at EGC and create greater economic impact on the area with the addition of 200 new consumers. Based on the most recent economic impact study without student housing, EGC and its faculty, staff and students, impact the region by $60 million. 

 

Dr. John Black, president of East Georgia College, recognized state Sen. Jack Hill, state Rep. Butch Parrish, EGC Foundation Chairman Bill Rogers, Vice Chancellor Rob Watts of the University System of Georgia, Kelly Wilson, representing the University System real estate division, representative of the project management, architectural and construction teams, and members of the East Georgia College faculty and staff.

 

The new $8 million, 200 bed apartment complex is being financed through the sale of revenue bonds by the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority. Leading the construction team as project manager is The Hal Gibson Company. Lead architect on the project is local resident Kevin Palmer of Palmer Architects. Assisting in architectural design is Jackson Kane of Lord, Aeck and Sargent. The construction management team of Fortune-Johnson is the general contracting firm. 

 

The anticipated completion date is July 2011. Each unit consists of four bedrooms, two baths, kitchen and living area. Laundry facilities will be available in the building, along with computer labs and other common space.