UH Mānoa housing, entrepreneurship center moves forward

Atherton building plaster tone

Project partners plan to begin work on a first of its kind, $ 70 million, six-story facility at the University of in late July Hawaii in Mānoa, which integrates student dormitories and an innovation / entrepreneurship center financed with private, non-taxable money. The University and the UH Foundation are working in a public-private partnership (P3) with the Hunt Development Group to design, build and finance the facility for living, learning and working at the Atherton YMCA site.

It is one of several P3 and real estate projects UH is pursuing to build modern educational facilities more affordable and develop alternative sources of income to support the UH mission.

“This project marks a new era for the University of Hawaii In many ways. It will provide a dynamic, immersive educational and life experience to prepare students to push the boundaries of innovation and entrepreneurship as they become the foundation of a more diverse and sustainable new economy, ”said UH President David Lassner. “It will also be the first, but not the last, of our major construction projects to be initiated without investing public taxpayers’ money. Our deepest thanks go to the UH Foundation and the dedicated private sector leaders on the UHF Board of Directors for generously sharing their time and expertise in ensuring that the historic Atherton property remains a part of UH Mānoa and for their commitment to UH as the economic engine of our islands. “

Tim Dolan, UH Vice President of Advancement and CEO of the UH Foundation, said, “We are very excited to be a partner in this P3 project that will bring an innovative educational center to our campus community. Donors are also important partners in this ambitious project. Your philanthropic investments have brought us to this point and your continued support is of paramount importance to us to take advantage of all the opportunities this center offers our students and our economy. “

Atherton building plaster tone

The 114,000-square-foot structure will integrate academic and collaborative spaces with student dormitories, including 219 one- and two-bedroom units for a total of 373 beds. The new facility on the corner of University Avenue and Metcalf Street will house the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship (PACE) and will be modeled after the highly successful Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute of the University of Utah.

In addition to residential facilities, the 18,000 square meter center includes co-working offices, meeting rooms, classrooms and prototyping laboratories with 3D printers, scanners, sewing machines and laser cutters. Students from multiple disciplines will have the opportunity to take part in entrepreneurship education in a one-stop shop for UH programs that support research, innovation and entrepreneurship, areas critical to diversifying the state’s economy.

“UH Mānoa is one of the leading research universities in the country and we need to create an environment in which we can convert laboratory research into applied commercialization opportunities,” said Susan Yamada, Vice-Chairman of PACE. “This center will be an ecosystem to support UH innovators and a catalyst for entrepreneurship in Hawaii. Entrepreneurs don’t work from nine to five, they work late into the night and on weekends. Imagine having a place to go, where you can meet other like-minded people, exchange ideas, and find the resources you need to take an idea to the next stage of the startup. “

The Hunt Development Group will fund the project and the rental income will offset the bonds issued to fund the project. The Atherton YMCA consists of the Charles Atherton House and the Mary Atherton Richards House on 1 acre property across from one of the main entry points to the UH M Unoa Campus, the Sinclair Student Success Center and the Campus Center.

The project will preserve the iconic facade of the pink Charles Atherton House on the property.

The demolition of the gray Mary Atherton Richards House is slated to begin in late July. A resolution that would extend the boundaries of the campus to the Atherton property is due to be negotiated in a public hearing in front of the city council on July 7th. The Mānoa Neighborhood Board approved the 2019 project concept with an overwhelming majority of 9: 1.

The university and the YMCA have already teamed up to enable the YMCA to continue offering its programs from the UH Mānoa campus on the Queen Liliʻuokalani Center for Student Service.

Atherton building plaster tone

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/uh-manoa-housing-entrepreneurship-center-moves-forward/