Just a short walk to Georgia Tech’s campus in Midtown Atlanta’s Tech Square, Whistler opened for the fall 2023 semester, providing 565 beds in 168 fully furnished units and over 17,300 square feet of curated amenities. The purpose-built student housing community outperformed its first-year pro forma, achieving 97% occupancy for the 2023-24 school year.
With only a half-acre footprint, the only option was to build up. The design team at Niles Bolton Associates closely collaborated with developer LV Collective and general contractor JE Dunn Construction to effectively utilize the space in a thoughtful manner.
The ground levels were designed to incorporate multipurpose spaces that blend both public and residential amenities, including the Daydreamer Café, to create a connection between the residents and the neighborhood. Parking is confined to a single basement level to free up more of the ground floor for active uses. The residential floors had to be optimized to maintain building efficiency, and the placement of outdoor amenities capitalize on open views of the campus and the Atlanta skyline.
The design of mid-gray tones starts with a stacked charcoal-brick base of amenities to activate the street and draws the eye up with slender gray and white mini towers, and rhythmically shifting balconies slight offset from one another to create a dynamic façade.
“Integrating a purpose-built student housing community into an already established urban, mixed-use neighborhood surrounded by office and market-rate towers provided us an opportunity to do something special,” says Mohamed Mohsen, principal at Niles Bolton Associates. “We strived to create an inviting and functional environment that sets a new standard for purpose-built housing through a seamless connection between the public and private spaces.”
Ample group and private study spaces are offered across numerous levels of the building. The 24th floor with its glass-walled infinity pool and hot tub provides students with fresh air and a reprieve from the city. The crown of the amenity space is the expansive 25th floor, which features a fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, a spin studio, a fitness-on-demand room, and a yoga studio. In addition, students have access to sauna rooms and a pet spa to encourage relaxation and emotional support.
