McCarthy Celebrates Opening of San Francisco State University Residence Hall that Provides More Affordable Student Housing Options

McCarthy, in collaboration with EHDD Architecture and San Francisco State University (SFSU), today announced the opening of the West Grove Commons student housing project at SFSU. This new first-year residence hall addresses the critical need for affordable student housing and was brought to market with remarkable speed and efficiency.

As the first project completed under the California Affordable Student Housing grant, the funding has allowed SFSU to create an affordable housing program and build the West Grove Commons with over 700 student beds, dining commons, and a student health and well-being center. The affordable student housing program offers students an approximate 25 percent reduction in room fees, compared to SFSU's standard rates. Eligible students for this program can apply the reduced rate to any SFSU housing options for the academic year, including West Grove Commons.

The introduction of these affordable housing options is expected to significantly support enrollment numbers by making the cost of living more manageable for students. The housing portion of the project was completed in just 23 months from start to finish, thanks to the concerted efforts and collaboration between McCarthy, SFSU, EHDD, the California State University (CSU) Department of Fire Safety and the CSU Chancellor’s office, among others. 

“This progressive design-build project was marked by strategic planning and true collaboration with our partners from the start of programming to occupancy,” said Jack Carter, Vice President at McCarthy. “We set an expedited schedule with the intent to deliver more beds to SFSU students in time for the school year to help alleviate housing insecurity on campus, and we did so on time and within budget.”

The residence hall is a 120,000 square-foot, six-story all-electric building and was developed using a cluster concept, a design strategy intended to help first-year students generate tight-knit communities. This approach fosters natural communities of approximately 35 students by grouping triple rooms with a dedicated lounge, all gender bathroom facilities and a resident advisor. As students adjust to their first home away from home, this gives them space to socialize, sleep, study and dine within the comfort of an intimate community grouping. Other key design elements include:

• Community Focus: The housing is designed to form natural communities of 30-35 students, each sharing common spaces to promote interaction and a sense of belonging.
• Student Choice: A variety of lounge and amenity spaces cater to different student needs, from intimate pockets to large indoor and outdoor social spaces at the ground floor. By offering variety in furnishing and spatial quality, students may find variety within their own building. 
• Biophilic Design: Emphasizing natural light, fresh air and views of the landscape to improve student well-being.
• Sustainable Features: The project includes all-electric buildings, a focus on healthy material selection and is tracking to achieve LEED Gold Certification upon project completion.

Lynne Riesselman, Principal at EHDD, emphasized the importance of fostering community, stating, “As we set out to design this project, our goal was to always look for opportunities to improve student wellness. We wanted to create a place that promoted a sense of belonging and felt welcoming for all students, and somewhere that residents could recharge at the end of the day.”

Designed to create a residential anchor for the west side of campus, the project also includes a second all-electric, three-story, 50,000 square-foot building that will include a dining commons and student health and well-being center. This will enhance student wellness by consolidating health services, counseling and wellness programs into a single, accessible location. This strategic inclusion helps ensure that students frequently visit and use these essential services.

“This project not only provides much-needed housing, but also significantly enhances the student experience by integrating wellness and health services into their daily lives,” said Barry Jodatian, Associate Vice President of Capital Planning, Design and Construction at SFSU. “It’s a holistic approach to student living and learning.”

The project was made possible in part through $116 million in funds from the State of California's Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program, which is part of a broader initiative to increase affordable student housing across the state's public higher education systems.

The completion of the West Grove Commons project marks a significant milestone in addressing housing insecurity and supporting student success at SFSU. McCarthy, EHDD and SFSU remain committed to creating environments that enhance the overall student experience and support academic achievement.

About McCarthy

McCarthy is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with more than 150 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that spans all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 19th largest domestic builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2023). With approximately 7,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Austin, Channelview, Dallas, and Houston; and San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.  

About EHDD

Founded in 1946, EHDD is a West Coast architecture firm with offices in San Francisco and Seattle. The firm is credited with pioneering the net zero energy building concept more than 20 years ago. Today, they are leading the way through built projects and applied research to collaboratively decarbonize our built environment. With a mission to create transformative places of belonging and impact, EHDD works with a range of clients with a focus on higher education, arts and education non-profits, visitor-serving institutions including aquariums and parks, and leading-edge corporations dedicated to leadership in sustainability and social impact. Learn more at www.ehdd.com and follow EHDD on LinkedIn and Instagram. 

About San Francisco State University 

San Francisco State University is a public university serving students from the San Francisco Bay Area, across California and around the world, with nationally acclaimed programs that span a broad range of disciplines. More than 22,000 students enroll at the University each year, and its approximately 294,000 graduates have contributed to the economic, cultural and civic fabric of San Francisco and beyond. Through them — and more than 1,800 world-class faculty members — SF State proudly embraces its legacy of academic excellence, community engagement and commitment to social justice. For more information, visit sfsu.edu.