Samford University Freshman and Greek Housing Residence Halls

As part of Phase 1 of the Samford Horizons: A Blueprint for Tomorrow campus master plan, Robins & Morton served as general contractor for the construction of new freshman and Greek housing residence halls at Samford University in Homewood, Alabama. The five-story freshman hall spans 160,000 square feet and includes 513 beds arranged in single- and double-suite configurations, along with study rooms, gathering spaces, laundry facilities, and a kitchen. Two smaller residence halls for students in Greek letter societies provide an additional 140 beds. Rounding out the scope, the team also completed a 550-space addition to the north parking facility. Together, these projects address the university’s high demand for on-campus living.

The project presented significant challenges rooted in its central campus location. Extensive utility relocation was required, involving hot and cold water lines, hydronic piping, fire water, gas, storm and sanitary systems, fiber, and electrical infrastructure, all running beneath an active campus with tight laydown space and difficult soil conditions. The team responded with careful planning, innovative hydro-vac excavation techniques, and close coordination with campus stakeholders to minimize disruption to daily university operations. Strategic scheduling aligned construction activity with the academic calendar, and weekly coordination meetings with university staff allowed for continuous adjustments that kept both construction progress and campus life on track.

Robins & Morton’s leadership proved essential in delivering results that exceeded the client’s expectations. Through an integrated preconstruction approach, the team worked closely with the design team and trade contractors to develop early release packages, apply Target Value Delivery, and run concurrent utility, civil, and structural work. The firm also self-performed a significant portion of the concrete work, enabling resource sharing across project phases, schedule savings, and nimble responses to design changes. The projects were completed ahead of schedule and under budget.