The groundbreaking crew for Piedmont’s new student residence project included representatives from the college, City of Demorest, Habersham County, the Chamber of Commerce, and Juneau Construction Company.
Demorest, GA – Construction is underway in Demorest on a new Piedmont College Student Village, a residential project that will include 12 apartment-style buildings housing up to 180 additional students.
Board Chairman Thomas A. “Gus” Arrendale and President James Mellichamp led a work crew of Piedmont, Demorest, and Habersham County officials at a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 14 for the project, which will be located just off Historic Highway 441 on the Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway. Construction is expected to be complete by July 2015 in time for students to move in during the following fall semester.
In addition to the dozen apartment buildings, the project will also include retail space for six to eight stores, adding restaurants and other amenities, Mellichamp said. “This project allows us to offer additional options for students living on campus along with our traditional dormitories,” he said. “The apartment-style housing is especially attractive for older students.”
Each of the 12 new buildings will be two stories, with four apartments each. Each of the apartments will include four bedrooms, two baths, and a kitchen. Juneau Construction Company of Atlanta is in charge of the project.
Mellichamp said bed space is at a premium at Piedmont this year, with the nine residence halls now housing a record 604 students. The need for additional space is expected to increase with the completion next year of the new student commons, which is now under construction at the Demorest campus on Georgia Street across from Wallace Hall.
