OCC sought to define a strategic development plan for on-campus, affordable ,and accessible student housing focused on furthering student development and academic success.

B&D worked with the college to identify the strategic objectives of the campus-edge initiative—specifically student housing and hotel opportunities—and determined a range of possible P3 structures to fund and implement the project. At the outset, focus groups with students and a web-based survey to gain insights into student housing preferences and demand were conducted. B&D then developed a project-specific financial model that quantified potential financial terms under various P3 structures

An approach that aligned with the strategic objectives was identified, which resulted in a partnership with a national 501(c)(3) foundation and its developer and operator. B&D defined and evaluated the parameters of the development, considering programmatic, locational, market, political, capital, and operating requirements. The team navigated the communication and coordination with a large number of participants from the public and private sides, and guided the unprecedented decision-making process with the Board of Trustees. It was determined that additional educational and academic planning within the hospitality program was required to support any P3 hotel development. The new student housing project, the Harbour, is expected to open fall 2020.