May 16, 2005 – Susan Hammons

Second phase of housing construction to add 600 more beds

NACOGDOCHES - Stephen F. Austin State University students soon will have even more on-campus living options after the Board of Regents selected a design-build firm for a second new housing-parking garage complex.

Friday regents chose the team of Camden Builders Inc. and The Clerkley Watkins Group for the approximately $32 million project to be built where Clark Apartments and Wilson Hall now stand. Camden-Clerkley, the same pairing constructing a residence hall on the site of the former Units, was among three finalists that presented concepts to the board’s Building and Grounds Committee for the second phase of housing construction.

In its presentation, Camden-Clerkley touted its existing relationship with SFA. “That’s what’s going to make this budget work, what’s going to make this schedule work,” said Bobby Rivers, Camden vice president.

The other finalists were Collegiate Development Services/BOKA Powell Architects and Manhattan Construction/Rees Architects.

In SFA’s request for proposals, administrators asked for the residence hall to be finished by August 2006. Camden-Clerkley’s concept envisions a multistory, 600-bed residential development with two courtyards and a community building. Floor plans would include a mix of one-bedroom, one-bath and two-bedroom, one-bath units with either kitchenettes or full kitchens. The 7,249-square-foot community building would include a game room, conference room, classroom and technology lab.

A sky bridge would connect a 670-space, four-level parking garage to the housing complex. Curtis Clerkley, Clerkley-Watkins principal, said a goal was to “create something that would look like a park” and save as many trees as possible on Starr Avenue.

Camden-Clerkley now will begin meeting with SFA officials to refine the design.

In related action, regents authorized the university to seek Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board approval for this second phase of housing construction. Regents also authorized the university to extend the role of Broaddus & Associates, project manager, to the design-development phase, including establishing a guaranteed maximum price for the project, and to the construction documents phase, with each item not to exceed $240,450.

If the builder cannot provide financing for the housing project, regents authorized the university to request Texas Public Finance Authority financing not to exceed $39 million and to reimburse the project costs from the sale of bonds.

In other business, regents approved a contract with Daktroniks to provide $1.8 million in high-tech scoreboards and marquees for athletics at no cost to the university. The company is to install one video screen at the south end of the football stadium and two video screens in the coliseum. These screens employ the same technology as those at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium and in Times Square, a Daktroniks representative said.

Daktroniks anticipates recouping its investment through the sale of advertising. SFA athletics also should see an increase in revenues from increased advertising opportunities.

The board authorized the university to seek Coordinating Board approval for construction of the Student Recreation Center and resolutions initiating the financing process through the Texas Public Finance Authority and providing for the university to be reimbursed from the bond proceeds not to exceed $22 million for project costs.

The board also authorized the university to purchase electricity through the Texas A&M System, if administrators determine that such a purchase would be the best option for SFA.

Additionally, the board adopted a resolution supporting a $300 million emerging technology fund proposed by Gov. Rick Perry. Dr. Mary Cullinan, provost-vice president for academic affairs, said two SFA programs, biotechnology and Dr. Shiyou Li’s study of cancer-fighting properties of the Campotheca plant, potentially could benefit from the fund.