Editors: Tours of a four-bedroom, two-bath model are available for reporters and photographers. Contact Rob Martin, general manager, at (303) 443-2521 or rmartin@studenthousing.com to schedule an appointment.
Bear Creek Apartments at Williams Village, the new student housing project at the University of Colorado at Boulder, features a variety of on-site amenities for students.
Services include a business center on the main floor that allows students to log on to a network for color printer and fax services, card-controlled access to the building, 11 units designed for wheelchair access, bike storage, social lounges and study areas, a 24-hour courtesy patrol and on-site management and maintenance staff.
The apartment project is being constructed and managed by a private developer, American Campus Communities, a national provider of student housing.
The building is designed to be energy efficient and to promote conservation. Main entrances, vestibules and other areas include physical insulation barriers for climate control, steam and chilled water are self-generated from a plant at Williams Village and each floor has an EcoCycle collection room.
Colorado businesses have provided services and materials, making the project a "good economic boost," according to Betsey Jay, vice president of communications for the University of Colorado Foundation, which issued revenue bonds for the construction.
A group of students served as advisers on design features for the project. They visited American Campus Communities properties at universities in Houston and Austin, Texas, to view completed student housing projects and advised Boulder's Oz Architecture on interior design elements, including color, carpet and product selection.
Amauri DaRocha was one of the students on the team.
"I was impressed by the way American Campus had integrated an enriching residential life program with a beautifully designed facility," he said. "This was echoed by the positive comments I got from students who actually lived there. I look forward to seeing how it all unfolds in Boulder."
The apartments are designed for upper-division and graduate students and are scheduled to open for occupancy in August. They feature a mix of private and shared bedroom accommodations with private and semiprivate bathrooms, academic support services and laundry and recreational facilities.
Applications for the apartments are being accepted at the American Campus Communities office in room 227C at the University Memorial Center.
Rental rates include telephone, Internet and premium cable television services, utilities and furnishings. Bus transportation to and from campus will be provided.
For more rental information, call the American Campus Communities leasing office at (720) 406-0300, stop by the office at UMC 227C from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or visit the Web site at .
For information on the student housing expansion project development, contact Derrick Watson, CU-Boulder project coordinator at (303) 735-0802 or Derrick.Watson@Colorado.Edu.