FORT WORTH, TX - BOKA Powell architecture has completed work on 252 new apartments at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, now open to students and their families. The housing accommodates the school’s unique student profile by offering both two and three-bedroom units, suited to serve both married students with children, and singles alike.
“In response to student housing trends, including demand for enhanced amenities, the seminary has upgraded its on-campus housing offerings to appeal to more students,” said Robby Reid, project manager, BOKA Powell, which served as the project’s design architect, interior designer and architect of record.
Aging buildings were razed and replaced with new garden-style apartments, featuring granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and accents, laminate wood flooring, and sophisticated, cherry-stained Shaker-style cabinetry. BOKA Powell designed the open-concept units for maximum flexibility, including a large space for a dining/study table in the eat-in kitchen and a storage alcove at the entry door.
“I firmly believe that our students, and their families, will see firsthand the Seminary’s commitment to their education by the provision of first-class accommodations at a reasonable price,” said Kevin Ensley, vice president of business administration at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Buildings are configured in clusters to create intimate neighborhoods for social interaction and safe, sheltered courtyards for children to play. Surface parking is directly adjacent to each group of units, reducing walking distance. Balconies and individual entrances accentuate the departure from traditional dormitory-style living.
“Our design blends traditional and contemporary elements into an aesthetic with broad appeal. The exterior material palette is evocative of the existing campus architecture, including brick and siding. Red brick, instead of the campus’ buff-colored brick, is a visual cue announcing arrival into a residential space from an academic area,” said Reid.
The three-story apartment buildings, located in the J. Howard Williams Student Village across Seminary Drive in southwest Fort Worth, comprise 287,000 gross square feet and are connected to the main campus via an accessible walkway running through the development. Three-bedroom units include 1,110 square feet, and two-bedroom units average 975 square feet.
Manhattan Construction Company served as the project’s general contractor. The second of two phases wrapped construction last month, with the first phase finished in September 2012.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, founded in 1908, offers bachelor’s, graduate and doctoral degrees with more than 3,200 students coming from 43 different states, 41 foreign countries and a U.S. protectorate.