Faster, Smarter, Custom-Built: A New Era of Student Housing
Catholic University Student Housing
Modular Genius delivered a 25,000+ square foot modular student housing complex made up of 22 buildings: 19 cottage-style units and two larger traditional hall-style dormitory buildings, totaling 124 student beds.
To support its ambitious enrollment growth plan, Catholic University turned to Modular Genius for a solution that could rapidly and effectively expand its on-campus housing. Facing the challenge of accommodating over 100 students before the start of the academic term, the university needed a solution that was fast, attractive, ADA-compliant, and community-oriented, all without major disruptions to campus life.
Modular Genius delivered a 25,000+ square foot modular student housing complex made up of 22 buildings: 19 cottage-style units and two larger traditional hall-style dormitory buildings, totaling 124 student beds. This courtyard-style layout was designed to encourage a sense of community, while the exterior and interior finishes ensured the buildings reflected a modern and permanent aesthetic.
“These buildings don’t look like trailers, they look like homes,” said Jim Clark, on-site superintendent. “They remind me of something you’d see in a beach community, almost like an Airbnb. The big porches and layout really invite students to interact outdoors and create community.”
The project included full kitchens with electric ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, and washer/dryer units; ADA-accessible ramps and steps; covered porches with Trex decking; and PVC railings and skirting to match the campus. Inside, each cottage unit featured luxury vinyl plank flooring, private bathrooms, and open-plan living areas. Each building also included HVAC units per room, gutters and downspouts, and fire suppression systems.
“This was more than a cookie-cutter deployment,” noted Senior Project Manager Al Hayes. “Because of the inward-facing courtyard design, we had to customize every building to fit its orientation, from window and door placement to floodlight locations and MEP adjustments.
That level of customization speaks to the care we bring to every student housing project.” Hayes, who is also a proud alumnus of Catholic University, played a personal role in bringing the campus vision to life.
Catholic University had previously used modular buildings on this same footprint in the 1990s and early 2000s, but this new project reflects how far modular construction has come. “The goal was to expand enrollment from 6,000 to 10,000 students over the next decade,” said Business Development Manager Michael Whitehead. “They couldn’t wait the 7 to 10 years it would take to build traditional dormitories. This project, from first contact to occupancy, took under two years. That’s the power of modular.”
This wasn’t Modular Genius’s first collaboration with Catholic University. In 2020, the team delivered a four-unit swing space during the pandemic, another award-winning project. Additionally, the architect on this new project had previously partnered with Modular Genius at Virginia State University, a job that also earned industry recognition.
“That referral shows how trust, results, and relationships in this industry can lead to the next opportunity,” said Hayes.
Today, Catholic University students enjoy safe, modern housing that enhances their experience and supports the school’s long-term growth. The project is yet another example of how Modular Genius continues to redefine what’s possible in modular student housing.
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