Graduate Student Residence

The project involved a five-storey concrete and structural steel building with a mechanical penthouse level, exterior landscaping, playground relocation, and site services. The 11,746 m² (126,443 ft²) building consists of 254 bedrooms, a classroom, an exercise room, a music room, retail space, a small student lounge on each floor and a larger one on the main floor, and an exterior patio area.

Prior to commencement of the project, the owner was significantly over budget. Through value engineering, Graham provided a series of cost saving options for the owner to explore, saving them a considerable amount of money and allowing the project to move forward. Many of the changes involved finding comparable products (e.g., finishes and windows) that cost significantly less than the higher-end, brand name product the owner was proposing. Graham made sure that any price request issues on the project was reviewed and ensured competitive prior to submitting to the owner.