Exclusive: Harley Ellis' Roy Reel On Student Housing Projects

Machu Picchu at 8,500 ft.
Roy Reel

Harley Ellis Devereaux’s iconic Roy Reel tells Bisnow about four of his firm’s new student housing projects, including two of the largest residence halls in the US.

Roy and his wife, Patricia (pictured), recently traveled to Machu Picchu in the Peruvian Andes to celebrate Roy's birthday.

Machu Picchu
Roy Reel

The Inca’s built this “lost city” around 1450 and abandoned it 100 years later when the Spaniards invaded South America, Roy says.

Machu Picchu is now an architectural World Heritage Site after being discovered in 1910 by archaeologists.

Iowa's Madison Street Residence Hall
Harley Ellis

In addition to its 15-acre, 2,700-bed USC Village complex racing toward a fall 2017 completion, HED is working on the 1,000-bed Madison Street Residence Hall (above) at the University of Iowa. The two will be among the nation's largest residence halls.

The school’s main campus is defined by its relationship with the Iowa River and Iowa City’s urban environment. HED blended the residential and academic experience of the two, creating a living/learning community and dining hall, featuring three interconnected 12-story towers, with a sustainable design goal of LEED Silver.

Pepperdine Outer Precinct Housing(1)
Harley Ellis

In Southern California, HED also is designing Pepperdine University’s new 450-bed Outer Precinct Housing—three four-story buildings overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Malibu (above).

By using computational fluid dynamic design tools, the firm created a unique building form that takes maximum advantage of onshore breezes to eliminate the need for air conditioning, according to Roy.

In Irvine, HED has been selected by the University of California to develop the detailed project program for its newest Middle Earth housing complex, a 750-bed expansion of residential buildings on the university campus, Roy says.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Related Topics: Harley Ellis Devereaux , Roy Reel
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Los Angeles Newsletters
Related Stories

DivcoWest Sells Glendale Office Building For $70M

New Short-Stay Rules Risk Netherlands' €1B Student Housing Revival

Navigating The Phoenix Student Housing Boom At Bisnow's Event On Sept. 29

Daniel Negari Buys Downtown LA Hotel For $34M

Downtown Atlanta Improvement Group Picks Food Bank Chief As Next Leader

Stockdale Capital Partners, Hamilton Lane Acquire Chino Hills Shopping Center For $157M

Trump's DEI Crackdown Is Creating New Risks For Landlords That Lease To The Government

California Emerging As Data Center Fallback Market Amid Nationwide Opposition

Brandon Johnson Seeks Second Term Amid Strained CRE Relationship

Chapman Market Owners Get $29M Refinance: The Los Angeles Deal Sheet

Lineage Suing Solar Company Altus Power Over Boyle Heights Warehouse Fire

HPP, Blackstone Nab Extension On $1.1B Loan Tied To 2.2M SF Hollywood Portfolio