Stearns Hall is a new four-story, 79,500-square-foot student residence hall constructed to support Wayne State College’s growing housing needs. The building houses approximately 276 students and includes a mix of traditional-style units in the north wing and suite-style units in the south wing. Shared amenities include multiple common areas, a weight room, laundry facilities, reception and commons spaces, an assistant director apartment, and building services, along with outdoor amenities such as a public gaming and gathering area.
The project moved from hire to groundbreaking in fewer than 100 days, requiring rapid reprogramming that significantly reshaped the project scope while delivering meaningful cost savings for the owner. Throughout construction, the team remained flexible and solutions-driven, accommodating a significant scope increase added mid-project due to the owner’s confidence in the team’s performance—while still maintaining the original completion schedule.
Late in the project, there was a request to convert the material delivery road into a permanent student plaza. The team reevaluated logistics, developed an alternate delivery route, and completed the plaza without disrupting construction sequencing.
