Building the Best in Student Housing from Coast to Coast. A Recap of Two Simultaneous Projects for Landmark Properties.
The Standard at Berkeley, in Berkeley, California, and The Standard at Coral Gables, in Coral Gables, Florida both began construction in the spring of 2019. The projects both finished in the summer of 2021, allowing the project teams to share best practices, and hold friendly competition as the projects progressed – driving each team to Build a Better Way.
Des Moines, IA – In 2018, Landmark Properties awarded The Weitz Company two student housing projects over 3,000 miles apart from each other, The Standard at Berkeley in Berkeley, California and The Standard at Coral Gables, in Coral Gables, Florida.
Both projects began construction in the spring of 2019. Shortly after the groundbreaking, the two project teams discovered both projects were set to finish in the summer of 2021, resulting in a coast-to-coast “competition” to see which team would finish first.
As construction progressed, the two project teams connected with each other frequently to discuss similarities and challenges with each other during their virtual staff meetings. Over the course of the projects, the teams also built cultures of uniformity among their teams and subcontractors by holding regular morning meetings discussing daily tasks, material delays, and safety concerns. This allowed the projects to stay on track and create the best quality projects for The Weitz Company’s client, Landmark Properties.
The Weitz Team…delivered a ‘beyond acceptable’ finished product, exceeding the Owner’s expectations…and their Project Management Team did an excellent job of Buy-Out, providing the Owner additional funds toward quality upgrades and finishes.
Jason Murray, Vice President at Landmark Properties
While neither project was officially declared a winner because of the closeness in completion date, both project teams raised “the standard” in student housing with their determination to deliver a high-quality product for Landmark Properties.
The Standard at Berkeley – Berkeley, California
Located near the University of California-Berkeley campus, The Standard at Berkeley is an eight-story, 417-bed luxury student housing community. The exterior of the adjoining Fred Turner building was a Julia Morgan-design city landmark constructed in 1940 and part of the project scope and design.
Within the off-campus community, there is an outdoor lounge area with an elevated courtyard, grilling stations, outdoor televisions, and a rooftop deck. Other amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, an academic lounge, private study rooms, a computer lab, and a resident clubroom with a gaming area. Future residents have the option to choose from studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom, and five-bedroom units. All the units come fully furnished with designer furniture and high-tech appliances.
The Standard at Berkeley also features ground-floor retail space with 47 underground parking stalls.
The Standard at Coral Gables – Coral Gables, Florida
Located minutes away from the University of Miami campus, The Standard at Coral Gables is a nine-story, 376-bed luxury mixed-use multi-family and student housing building.
The amenities are located on the fifth floor and include an academic lounge, private study rooms, a computer lab, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a resident lounge/club room, and a game lounge that opens out onto a resort-style recreation pool deck. Future residents have the option to choose between one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments. Similar to the Berkeley project, the units come fully furnished with designer furniture and high-tech appliances.
The Standard at Coral Gables also features a four-story above-ground parking structure with 366 parking stalls and 27,000 SF of ground-floor retail space.
