The Shiel Sexton-Powers joint venture hired Anova to provide quality assurance, safety, and LEED services for Ball State University’s New Residence Hall as part of Phase I of the North Residential Neighborhood. The $43 million residence hall will house approximately 500 students, primarily freshman, and is the new home of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) Living-Learning Community.
The residence hall is the third living-learning community on Ball State’s campus and was created explicitly for STEM students. Students in this community will belong to a supportive environment providing stimulating, intellectual, and a social atmosphere where they will also enjoy opportunities for formal interaction with faculty and informal discussions and programs.
Amenities in the new residence hall include a central study lounge, fitness room, computer lab, laundry facilities, and kitchenettes. The residence hall also features a makerspace area with a 3-D printing and fabrication lab, as well as a Virtual Reality development center. Outdoor social spaces include a community fire pit, seating, and hammocks.
The construction of the new residence hall began in August 2018 and will open for the fall 2020 semester. The new residence hall is a replacement for one of the campus’s largest residence halls, LaFollette, where demolition is in progress.
The project had 25 contracting groups, including Shiel Sexton, Powers & Sons, and Anova, and numerous sub-contracting specialists. Anova began providing quality and safety services full time during the last four months of the project, which included the roll-out of the project’s COVID-19 safety protocols. We used Procore to manage more than 10,000 pre-punch and punch list items. Anova also provided LEED services, and the project is anticipating LEED Silver Certification.
Team members serving on the project included George McCloskey, Mike Sebring, C.J. Eastman, Charles Porter, Cameron Crooks, Lawerence Kong, and Brad Garwood.