University of Houston, Cougar Village, Houston, Texas

The HADP goal for the project was to create a freshman housing village at an urban university in support of the mission of the University of Houston to become a residential campus. HADP Architecture was selected, as part of the design/build part, for the latest phase of housing at the University of Houston. Cougar Village (Wheeler District Freshman Housing, Phase 1) will provide accommodations for an additional 1,168 students.  The project consists of two-bedroom, shared-bath units with related amenities, support staff, and resident staff/resident assistant apartments. Amenities will include a reception area/lobby, central and floor lounges, computer room, laundry room(s), multi-purpose classrooms, fitness area(s), living-learning center with two staff offices, floor kitchenettes, and vending areas.  Support spaces include housekeeping and custodial closets, mail center, storage/maintenance rooms, IT and building systems closets, trash room and chute, elevators and equipment room. Adjacent exterior spaces will be designed to encourage outdoor activities featuring landscaping, seating and site lighting.  Site paving will create and reinforce strong pedestrian/bicycle connections with the campus. The project will be the first phase of two similarly-sized residence halls to be located along Wheeler Avenue at the southern edge of the UH campus.