Capstone Development constructed two privatized housing complexes on campus to keep up with the demand for student housing at Bowling Green State University. The new community provides housing for 1,318 students in private and shared bedrooms. The development consists of two buildings, each with wings of varying heights and orientations. Large community spaces are placed at the “hub,” - providing more oversized lounges and study spaces, a game area, a community kitchen, a laundry, and multi-purpose rooms for group study. The structure combines light gauge bearing walls, light gauge joists, and structural steel.
Structural steel was included primarily to provide flexibility in the first-floor layout. Large public spaces provided at the central first-floor areas were located beneath light gauge bearing walls above, and, to make this floor plan work, steel beams were needed to support the bearing walls above and transfer these loads to columns.
To meet the needs of BGSU, the entire project was designed and constructed in 20 months. The accelerated schedule required collaboration and communication among the design and construction teams. It also required multiple early bid packages. This new community – Falcon Heights and Centennial Hall - opened in August 2011.
