Georgia 08 2015

As part of a renaissance takingplace in Macon, Ga., crews are inthe midst of building a new busi-ness and student housing develop-

ment adjacent to Mercer University. Macon-based SierraDevelopment is building a more than $40 million project,known as The Lofts at Mercer. Another project, The Loftsat College Hill, also is coming to life.

Sierra Development, which built three phases of the Loftsat Mercer Village, is overseeing these latest endeavors. TheLofts at College Hill is expected to be open by fall, whileThe Lofts at Mercer should be completed next year.

“Mercer has experienced three straight years of growth inits entering freshman class exceeding 10 percent,” saidJames Netherton, executive vice president of administrationand finance. “Mercer has a three-year housing requirementand needs additional housing for undergraduates to meet thisgrowing demand. Lofts V has an opening date of July 2016,which is essential for meeting the anticipated undergraduatehousing need for that school year.

“Phase IV was designed to house law, medical and grad-uate students. It will be used primarily in 2015 to 2016 forundergraduates. When Phase V is finished, Phase IV willreturn to its intended use and Phase V will be exclusively forundergraduates.”

When construction of The Lofts at Mercer is complete,more than 800 beds of student housing will have been addedto the Macon campus since 2011, with a combined invest-ment of more than $100 million in the five lofts projects andhotel-restaurant development. The main challenge for thoseinvolved with the overall project is minimizing impact onuniversity operations.

“The impact of any project depends on the location andnature of the project,” Netherton said. “Communication,coordination and careful planning are required to lessen theimpact and keep all affected fully informed.”Netherton saidthe projects are beneficial to Macon/Bibb County and theuniversity.

“Phase IV continues the economic development of theCollege Hill Corridor and contributes to the ongoing revital-ization of Macon. It will bring new energy to an importantarea of the city. Phase V will greatly enhance what is becom-ing the primary entrance to the Mercer campus and what willbecome, with the Second Street Project, the new primaryentrance to downtown Macon from Interstate 75.

“Both are very exciting, not just for the University, butalso for the city. Each represents a significant step forwardin enhancing Macon, and each should provide benefits wellbeyond just good housing for a growing student population.There is a signature pedestrian bridge being constructed to

link Phase V with the main campus. The bridge is a coop-erative venture of Macon/Bibb County, Sierra Developmentand Mercer. The bridge will not only be functional, butmonumental, announcing arrival in Macon as the new routeto downtown is developed.”

At the July 2014 groundbreaking for Phase IV construc-tion, Mercer President William Underwood told reporters,“The Lofts at College Hill is another major step toward ful-filling the College Hill Master Plan. In less than five yearswe have been able to attract new residents, recruit new busi-nesses, and improve the aesthetics in the College HillCorridor through partnerships like the one we have withSierra Development. It has been a very productive collabo-ration.”

David Papageorge, project manager of general contractorPiedmont Construction Group, said Phase IV is movingforward at a steady pace, with only about 5 percent of thework performed on Phase V.

“[Phase V] site work, which is being managed by theowner, is basically done, and we are in the process of secur-ing the permits and ordering the rebar, steel and post-tensiontendons,” said Papageorge.

“Phase IV, building two, is roughly 90 percent complete.We have started our internal pre-punch list to get it ready forthe owner’s punch list. On building one, the siding is beingcompleted and the elevators are being installed. All the dry-wall is hung and finished in the apartments. Prime paintingis well under way, and is being followed up by door, trimcabinet installation, flooring door hardware and MEP trimout.”

The Lofts Projects Strengthen Renaissance in Macon

GEORGIA STATE EDITION A Supplement to:

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Piedmont Construction Group photoCrews continue to work on Phase IV.see LOFTS page 6

April 152015

Vol. XVII • No. 8

By Cindy RileyCEG CORRESPONDENT

Maryann Bates photoAs part of a renaissance taking place in Macon, Ga., crews are in the midst of building a new business and stu-dent housing development adjacent to Mercer University.

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Phase IV is now winding down. The ele-vators are being installed and cabinet, trimand molding, doors and hardware, paintingcounter tops and MEP trim are currently allunder way and in various stages of comple-tion. All the major storm water is installedfor Phase V, the building pad is to grade andthe parking structure rough grade is 60 per-cent complete.

On both projects, Piedmont is responsiblefor the underground MEP inside the buildingfootprint and the entire building and parkingstructure. The owner handles and managesthe demolition site work, landscape hard-scape, telephones, CATV, security andFF&E.

“Both projects have very limited siteaccess,” said Papageorge. “Therefore, largeamounts of planning and coordination havegone into properly sequencing the activities,deliveries and the personnel access.

“The construction equipment used is typ-ical for the stick framed structures. We havebeen using lulls and boom trucks to stockmaterials and remove trash. Small Bobcat-type equipment is being used to dress uparound the building. Aerial lifts are beingused for the exterior siding, painting, glassand light installation. There were a couple ofinstances where concrete pumps were usedto place the concrete for the slabs on grade,retaining walls and lightweight concrete onthe roof. The precast parking structure willrequire the use of a large boom crane.”

Phase IV involved an existing buildingthat was demolished, while Phase V was aflat site with pecan trees. Both facilities con-sist of wood framing with gypcrete toppingover the subfloors. The units have plasticlaminate flooring and the corridors have astained concrete finish, and the walls arepainted gypsum board with solid core doorsin the units. The main entrance doors arehollow, metal security doors. The kitchenshave aesthetically appealing cabinets withstone tops. All the units come equipped withappliances.

“Phase IV is remote from the campus andhas not been challenging,” said Papageorge.“Phase V is directly across the street fromMercer and will have more Mercer involve-ment. However, this site is not on campus,and, therefore, will not have any studentaccess. We will, however, have a higherdegree of traffic control, and limited accesson the side streets while construction isunder way.

“We have not been adversely affected bythe weather. We have been fortunate andhave been able to work weekends to pick upthe time so far.”

A new hotel and restaurants are slated forthe block adjacent to The Lofts at Mercer,across Mercer University Drive from theHilton Garden Inn. Details about that newdevelopment will be announced at a laterdate.

Located in the historic College HillCorridor, The Lofts at College Hill will fea-ture 146 one-and two-bedroom studentapartments and 12,000 sq. ft. (1,114.8 sq m)of retail space when it opens later this year.Amenities will include a 3,800 sq. ft. (353 sqm) clubhouse, a fitness center with a yogaroom and an outdoor gathering area with afire pit, water feature and al fresco dining.The Lofts at Mercer will have 313 beds inone to four bedroom units, making it biggerthan the three phases of Lofts at MercerVillage combined.

“The biggest focus on all constructionprojects is to get the structure erected, roofinstalled and exterior skin and windowsinstalled. Once the building dry-in mile-stone is reached, it opens up a myriad ofspace, and allows for the finish materials tobe installed with a progression to projectcompletion.”

The Phase V development will include a400-space parking deck that will be precastwith brick inlay, and will include stairs andtwo elevators. A 10,000 sq. ft. (929 sq m)clubhouse will house the leasing office,media room, club area with pool table wetbar and sitting area. There also is a fitnessarea with bicycles, treadmills, stair mas-ters/elliptical machines and a yoga room.The terrace will have a small covered areawith a counter top, sink and TV. The major-ity of the space will have picnic tables andlounge chairs.

A total of 14,000 sq. ft. (1,300 sq m) offirst-floor office space will be used to houseMercer University personnel. Currently, thisportion of the project is in the planning anddevelopment stage.

“Both these projects are highly prized fortheir revitalization of areas in Macon,” saidPapageorge. “They are providing highlyneeded housing for students as Mercergrows and expands. Along with the housing,

other business are being developed to sup-port and spin off from these apartments.Phase IV has a retail space that will houserestaurants and shops, Phase V will haverestaurants and a hotel. All these bring jobsand revitalization to the city.”

Geheber Lewis Architects of Atlantaserved as the design team for both phases.GLA Associate, Michael Friedman, said thefirm’s vision was clear.

“Phase IV Lofts at College Hill is a com-munity revitalization project that combinesresidential living within walking distance ofrestaurants and retail. Phase V Lofts atMercer strives to expand the reach of MercerUniversity, acting as a gateway to both cam-pus and downtown. Outdoor gathering areasand a 7,000 square-foot rooftop terrace willallow students plenty of areas to socializeand enjoy their time outdoors with fellowclassmates. Mercer and the neighboringrestaurant/retail/ hotel redevelopment willboost commercial growth for the surround-ing area.”

“Site constraints and a limited construc-tion timetable challenged our design,” said

Friedman. “Concerns with designing a con-temporary building around existing historicstructures was also a part of the challenge.”

Energy-efficient windows and appliancesand the use of locally produced and manu-factured materials were part of GLA’s sus-tainability pledge. Phase IV’s contemporarystyle showcases a variety of cladding mate-rials including brick, siding, reveal panel andcorrugated metal, while Phase V’s contem-porary style is predominantly brick withreveal panels.

“It’s very exciting to be a part of MercerUniversity’s growth and Macon’s revitaliza-tion. It’s rewarding to see the communitycome together to celebrate the growth of thecity.”

Officials say the mixture of uses will cre-ate a social connection between students andresidents, while the location of the lofts willcreate a physical connection, linking theinterstate to College Hill and downtownMacon.

Since the inception of the College HillCorridor initiative, more than $91 million inpublic and private investment has beenleveraged in the roughly 2 sq. mi. (5.1 sqkm) area. Established by a grant to MercerUniversity in 2009, the College Hill Alliancehelps the community in creating positivechange to the College Hill Corridor, a twosq. mi. area between Mercer’s campus andMacon’s downtown business district.

Founded in 1833 by Georgia Baptists,Mercer started as a boys’ preparatory schoolnamed Mercer Institute, and originally con-sisted of a red clay farm and two hewed logcabins. Today, Mercer is a comprehensivecenter of undergraduate, graduate and pro-fessional education, with more than 8,300students and a dozen schools and colleges.For almost twenty years U.S. News &World Report has ranked Mercer among theleading universities in the South.

(This story also can be found onConstruction Equipment Guide’s Web site atwww.constructionequipmentguide.com.)CEG

Phase V Development to Include 400-Space Parking Deck

Maryann Bates photo“Site constraints and a limited construction timetable challenged our design,” saidGLA Associate Michael Friedman.

Piedmont Construction Group photoCrews continue to work on Phase V.

LOFTS from page 1

Construction Equipment Guide • Georgia State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • April 15, 2015 • Page 7

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Georgia 08 2015