Greystar partners with University of Mississippi on modular dorm

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5 days ago

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Property: Kincannon site, West Row site Developer: Greystar, University of Mississippi Location: Oxford, Mississippi Units: 2,700 beds (total) Cost: Withheld
Charleston, South Carolina-based Greystar is tapping its modular construction pipeline to build on-campus housing for over 2,700 students at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi.
The multifamily giant is on track to open two new residence halls at Ole Miss by 2027, developed in a public-private partnership with the university. Greystar is set to collaborate with university leaders, industry experts and Mississippi-based businesses to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the site, according to the release. More than 70% of the on-site construction work will be available to local and regional subcontractors.
'By leveraging our modular construction capabilities and working closely with local partners, we're able to deliver efficient, sustainable communities that support student success while contributing to Mississippi's economy,' said Julie Skolnicki, senior managing director of university partnerships at Greystar, in the news release.
The West Row site, located across from the UM School of Law, will add 1,500 beds, a new dining hall and over 1,500 parking spaces. Another 1,200 beds are slated for the former site of Kincannon Hall, a 540-bed student dorm built in 1963, closed in 2015 and demolished in 2023, according to The Daily Mississippian. A new parking garage is already under construction at the Kincannon site.
Portions of the buildings will be prefabricated by Greystar's modular construction business, Modern Living Solutions, at its factory in Knox, Pennsylvania, in order to shorten construction timelines and lower costs for students, according to the release. Living options will include suites and semi-suites.
Public-private partnerships for residential development are a relatively new practice in Mississippi, according to Steven Holley, vice chancellor for administration and finance at the University of Mississippi.
The University of Mississippi selected the model in an effort to meet the needs of an expanding student base, modernize campus infrastructure in the long term and save university resources for other priorities, including new academic and research facilities, according to Holley.
'At the heart of our mission lies our unwavering commitment to giving students the best experience possible, which is why this project is vital to addressing one of the most important aspects of the student experience: housing,' added Glenn Boyce, chancellor of the University of Mississippi, in the release. 'This transformative partnership with Greystar will provide a unique and exceptionally efficient approach to expanding housing options on campus.'