Clark Builders Group Awarded Second Varsity Student Housing Project

BALTIMORE, Md. — On May 11, Clark Builders Group (CBG) began work on its second Varsity Student Housing project for owner CS Potomac Associates, LLC after considerable success with sister project, The Varsity at College Park, Md. The Varsity at University of Baltimore marks CBG's first project to uphold the city's new Green Building Standards, which were adopted in March. Known to students as The Varsity at UB, the apartment community sits adjacent to the UB campus in downtown Baltimore's Mount Vernon cultural district, and will provide 323 beds of student housing across a total of 114 studios, 2-bedroom, and 4-bedroom pod-style units.

These apartments, which will feature granite countertops, engineered hardwood floors, and private bathrooms, will span 10 stories atop first floor amenity space. The project will also boast a green roof and EnergyStar rated Air Handling Units among other sustainable features. The Varsity adds to the University's dense, urban appeal and will blend with the neighborhood's existing historic brick row homes.

"We are proud to have been chosen to develop the first ever housing community for the University and are looking forward to bringing the Varsity lifestyle to the students of University of Baltimore," said developer Donnie Gross, principal of Potomac Holdings.

CBG has adopted a six-day work week to aim for completion within a 14-month deadline, an expedited timeframe for this large, 11-story cast-in-place concrete structure with architectural precast concrete features and brick veneer exterior finishes. CBG also worked in initial design stages to alleviate costs for the owner wherever possible. The CBG project management and pre-construction teams collaborated to move the project forward, choosing to value engineer the design to successfully work within the owner's budget.

"We are excited to embark upon another Varsity project and work to meet Baltimore's Green Building Standards," remarked Keith Anderson, president of CBG. "As with any student housing project, schedule is the most critical element. We are happy that Potomac Holdings has trusted us with its investment and we are looking forward to building on the success we had at College Park."

The Varsity at UB is expected to reach completion in July 2012, just in time for students' return to campus.

About Clark Builders Group

As the second largest multifamily builder in the nation, Clark Builders Group (CBG) is one of the nation's premier builders of luxury apartments, military family housing, and mixed-use communities. CBG has constructed more than 50,000 homes since its founding in 1992 and boasts an extensive portfolio of nationally acclaimed, award-winning communities on both coasts. CBG is an affiliate of the Clark Construction Group, one of the nation's oldest and largest private general contractors. For more information, visit www.clarkbuildersgroup.com.

About The University of Baltimore

The University of Baltimore provides innovative education in law, business and the applied liberal arts to serve the needs of a diverse population. A public university, the University of Baltimore offers excellent teaching and a supportive community for undergraduate, graduate and professional students in an environment distinguished by academic research and public service. The University:

• makes excellence accessible to traditional and nontraditional students motivated by professional advancement and civic awareness;
• establishes a foundation for lifelong learning, personal development and social responsibility;
• combines theory and practice to create meaningful, real-world solutions to 21st-century urban challenges; and
• is an integral partner in the culture, commerce and future of Baltimore and the region.

About Baltimore City Green Build Standards

In August 2007, Council Bill 07-0602 mandated the City establish Green Building Standards for commercial and multi-family residential buildings over 10,000 square feet being either newly constructed or extensively modified. For more information please call the Housing Authority of Baltimore City office at 410-396-3237 or visit the City's Green Build Standards website at www.baltimorehousing.org.