Published: October 31, 2007 02:43 pm         

Valdosta State University Building for the Future

In June 2004, Valdosta State University kicked off a $35.6 million student housing initiative with the ceremonial groundbreaking of its Centennial Hall East. Located on eight acres of land off of Sustella Avenue, the 348-bed apartment-style learning and living community opened to students at the start of the spring 2005 semester in January.

Centennial Hall West and its additional 170 beds opened the following August in time for the influx of students expected during the fall semester. The two feature fully furnished apartments with all the comforts of home and were developed by Ambling Companies Inc. and named in honor of the 100th anniversary of Valdosta State University, founded in 1906 by a special act of the Georgia Legislature.

Rounding out Valdosta State University’s student housing initiative were the renovations of Lowndes Hall and Patterson Hall. A third residential facility, Brown Hall, underwent extensive renovations from the end of 2003 through the fall of 2004, using $2 million of auxiliary funds, monies earned through rent and bookstore and dining services.

A coeducational residential facility constructed in 1966 and housing 200 men and women, Lowndes Hall closed for extensive renovations in December 2004, reopening in August 2005. Named in honor of William Jones Lowndes, southern educator and statesman, and appreciation of Lowndes County, it now features a number of amenities, such as music practice rooms, up-to-date furnishings, a television lounge, laundry facilities and vending machines.

Constructed in 1969 as a residential facility for men only, Patterson Hall — named in honor of the street on which it is located — closed at the start of the fall 2005 semester for renovations similar to those completed at Lowndes Hall. It reopened the following August as a coeducational facility with a housing capacity of some 300 men and women.

With the construction of Centennial Hall East and Centennial Hall West and the extensive renovation of Lowndes Hall and Patterson Hall, Valdosta State University celebrated the completion of Phase I of its three-phase Master Plan. An aggressive campus transformation was well underway.

Fueled by an anticipated enrollment of 16,000 by the year 2020, Valdosta State University embarked on Phase II of its Master Plan in July. It all started with the demolition of Hopper Hall, former home of some 200 students, and will continue with the construction of a state-of-the-art Hopper Hall, an athletic field house, two parking decks, a student health center, a new Georgia Hall, a student union and the renovation of Reade Hall.

“Georgia is one of the fastest growing states in the nation, and the University System of Georgia is preparing to serve an additional 100,000 students by 2020,” said Valdosta State University President Dr. Ronald M. Zaccari. “(Valdosta State’s) regional and statewide mission strategically identifies the need to increase the student population to 16,000 by 2020. The projected growth places a greater demand on current university facilities. We must build a campus to accommodate future generations of students. All three phases of construction are a part of (Valdosta State’s) Master Plan, which was developed to guide capital construction over the next five to 10 years.”



Hopper Hall

The old Hopper Hall, a traditional double-loaded corridor facility housing some 200 students, was demolished during the months of July, August and September, 2007. Its replacement is scheduled to open to students with the start of the fall 2008 semester in August.

According to Valdosta State University’s Housing & Residence Life office, the brand new Hopper Hall will better utilize its large lot as a 4-story, state-of-the-art facility complete with dining, campus mail and auxiliary student support offices. To allow for maximum access at all hours, Hopper Hall will also provide a permanent home for the campus’s radio station, WVVS, and newspaper, The Spectator. Students living in the new Hopper Hall will enjoy suite-style setups with community kitchens, as well as laundry and vending facilities and recreational rooms on each floor. Projected cost of this project is $25,160,000.

Opened in 1969 and named for the state and the avenue on which it is located, Georgia Hall will be demolished during the summer of 2008. The new Georgia Hall will be an attractive 486-bed facility with additional options. Scheduled to open at the start of the fall 2009 semester, the projected cost of this project is $22,850,000.

Ambling University Development Group has been selected as the developer for the Hopper Hall and Georgia Hall projects. Atlanta’s architectural firm of Niles Bolton Associates will design the two halls.

Vice President for Student Affairs Kurt Keppler said, “We are very excited about the new Hopper Hall. It will more than double the size of the original Hopper Hall with the first floor specifically utilized for food service, student media and offices. The 500-plus residents will live in two- and four-person suite-style units with a contained outdoor courtyard. The new Hopper Hall is the first step in Valdosta State University’s attempt to house all of our entering freshmen and at least 25 percent of our students on campus.”



Athletic Field House

Construction of a new Athletic Field House south of the Student Recreation Center just off Sustella Avenue is scheduled to begin in November, ending by the fall 2008 semester. It will include parking spaces and a building to house a conference room, video editing stations, coaches’ offices, classrooms, a break room, two computer labs, locker rooms, training rooms and more. Eventually, two football practice fields and a practice soccer field will be added to the area. The projected cost of this project is $5,400,000.

Director of Athletics Herb Reinhard said, “The new Athletic Field House will be a tremendous addition for the Valdosta State University athletic program. Through the use of the team meeting rooms, computer labs, athletic training area and strength and conditioning room, the facility will have a very positive impact on every student-athlete at Valdosta State, in addition to being the new home of our football program. It is going to be a facility we will be very proud of.”



Parking Decks

Construction on two multi-level parking decks — one in the area of the Oak Street parking lot and a second in the area of the Sustella Avenue parking lot behind the Student Recreation Center — will begin at the close of the fall 2007 semester. The Sustella Avenue deck will boast offices for Parking and Transportation, a rental center for Campus Recreation and a substation for University Police and Auxiliary Services. Tim Haahs & Associates Inc. of Blue Bell, Pa., Cooper Carry of Atlanta and the Valdosta-based McCall & Associates Inc. will perform the design work on these two structures.

The projected cost for the parking projects totals $40,425,000.

Vice President of Finance and Administration Jim Black said, “... additional, convenient parking ... (has) long been (a) high ... (priority) held by Valdosta State’s students, faculty and staff for many years .... All of us at Valdosta State University are grateful to our colleagues at the Office of the Board of Regents and many other partners for guidance and encouragement which will soon make ... two parking decks ... a reality.”

Director of Auxiliary Services Rob Kellner said, “Available parking tends to be a common problem on most university campuses. The new parking decks will provide much-needed parking spaces while maintaining the architectural integrity of the campus.”



Student Health Center

With a medical staff comprised of a physician, a nurse practitioner, registered nurses, a medical technologist, a pharmacist and more, the Farber Health Center at Valdosta State University seeks “to provide optimum healthcare in a convenient location for undergraduate and graduate students in a compassionate, confidential manner.” And with the construction of a new, state-of-the-art health center scheduled to begin in December on Georgia Avenue next to the International Programs building, this group of qualified professionals will only be able to do their job even better.

The new Farber Health Center will offer 27,185 square feet of space — a significant increase from the current 6,900 square feet. The highly technical facility will also improve the healthcare needs of the increasing numbers of students at Valdosta State University.

Lott + Barber Architects of Savannah will serve as project designers. The new Farber Health Center will open to students in time for the spring 2009 semester. The projected cost for this project is $10,500,000.

Vice President of Finance and Administration Jim Black said, “... over time, the changing needs and growth of our student body have made our present health center obsolete.”

Director of Auxiliary Services Rob Kellner said, “With today’s focus on health and wellness, the new student health center provides a state-of-the-art facility that will provide the opportunity to provide the highest quality health care ....”



Reade Hall

Previously known as Senior Hall, Reade Hall first opened its doors to students in 1936. In 1957, the residential facility underwent a change in name in honor of Frank R. Reade, the third president of Valdosta State University.

Scheduled for extensive renovations beginning in January 2009, Reade Hall is currently a traditional residence hall housing some 110 first-year male students. When it reopens in August 2009 for the start of another fall semester, it will be a residence hall for honors students. It will maintain the same number of beds but with expanded square footage for public gathering space.

Ambling University Development Group has been selected as the developer for the Reade Hall project, with IPG Architects & Planners of Valdosta designing the renovations. The projected cost of this project is $3,220,000.

Director of Auxiliary Services Rob Kellner said, “Providing Reade Hall as an honors residence hall will enrich the academic experience for students.”

Student Government Association President Jonathan Stroble said, “Valdosta State University students understand that changes are needed to accommodate the anticipated growth. Understanding that many will be inconvenienced with the upcoming construction, the students are excited about all of the changes and can’t wait to see what Valdosta State University will bring for the next century.”



Student Union

Valdosta State University’s existing Student Union is home to The Loop Pizza Grill, Student Life, The Spectator and many other offices. It is located in a facility adjacent to the campus’s old gymnasium, which houses several athletic offices.

Prior to the beginning of the fall 2008 semester, the current Student Union and old gymnasium will undergo demolition to make room for a brand new state-of-the-art 120,000-square-foot Student Union that will offer an impressive visual presence from Baytree Road for those approaching from the area of Interstate 75.

The new Student Union will be a home away from home for Student Life, The Spectator, Student Government, the Campus Activities Board and the Dean of Students. It will feature a large ballroom, auditorium, new bookstore, student lounge and a food court and is scheduled for competition in December 2009.

Valdosta’s Ellis, Ricket and Associates Architects and Planners and WTW Architects of Pittsburgh, Pa., will design the Student Union. The projected cost for this project is $42,385,000.

Vice President for Student Affairs Kurt Keppler said, “The current Student Union building is 35,000 square and inadequate to serve Valdosta State University’s growing student enrollment. It does not contain any major programming space, theater, or student ‘hang out’ space. The Association of College Unions – International (ACU-I), the international professional association for student unions, supports a standard that campus student unions should strive to be at least 10 square feet per student. The new Student Union is approximately 120,000 square feet and will become the campus ‘living room’ as students use this new state-of-the-art facility as a place to congregate, hold meetings and attend programs.”

Student Government Association President Jonathan Stroble said, “The university has done an exceptional job making sure students participated in the planning and designing of the new Student Union. This facility will provide space for campus activities and social events and is designed to meet the needs of current and future students and serve as a ‘campus living room.’”



Health Sciences and Business Administration

Phase III of Valdosta State University’s Master Plan transformation will represent one of the most significant advances in its history and directly respond to the state of Georgia’s critical need for more healthcare professionals. A new $45 million Health Sciences and Business Administration facility, located on the university’s Rea and Lillian Steele North Campus, will establish a partnership with South Georgia Medical Center and the rest of the area’s medical community that will represent a tremendous economic impact on South Georgia, as well as provide the necessary facilities to increase educational opportunities within various health-related areas of study. In addition to this state-of-the-art facility, some $30 million in residence halls, dining facilities and related infrastructure will be constructed on the north campus, bringing the total cost to more than $75 million.

The new Health Sciences and Business Administration building will house a variety of health-related departments, including the College of Nursing, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Communication Disorders, Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, freeing up space on the main campus for additional growth. It will also share space with the Harley Langdale Jr. College of Business Administration.

The Health Sciences and Business Administration building has been endorsed by the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. It awaits state funding.

President Dr. Ronald M. Zaccari said, “The growth of the South Georgia geographic region has placed greater emphasis on graduating increased numbers of highly qualified healthcare and business professionals. Valdosta State University’s Master Plan has identified healthcare instructional and clinical facilities as important factors in the university’s expansion. The construction of the Health Sciences and Business Administration facility represents a significant step in addressing the nursing shortage and providing technology for faculty and staff. Preplanning is almost complete on the $47 million Health Sciences and Business Administration facility, which will become part of South Georgia Medical Center’s expansion and allow for joint usage of facilities for training healthcare professionals. This new facility will expand Valdosta State University’s current health-related and business degree offerings, especially those programs that are directly related to the current and projected shortages of Georgia’s growing population.”