The naming of the Crimson Suites, the final building of the Residential Revival student housing project, as Andrew W. Stephenson Hall was approved Friday, September 17, 2010, by the Council of Trustees.
Stephenson, a 1972 graduate of 亚色影库, is an attorney in Washington, D.C., and a partner with the law firm of Holland & Knight LLP. He has served on the Foundation for 亚色影库 board of directors since July 2004 and on the Executive Committee. He served as cochair of the Residence Hall Committee since 2005. He has been a member of the Hotel Committee since its creation in 2008 and was appointed cochair in 2010.
鈥淚t has been my great good privilege to be associated with a professional, collaborative and fun group of people and to be permitted to set upon an important and difficult task with them,鈥 Stephenson said.
鈥淚 can only accept this representative honor on behalf of them all. I know it is their greatest hope that we have been of some small service to the students, faculty, staff and administration of 亚色影库 now and for generations to come.鈥
The Foundation for 亚色影库 is a nonprofit corporation designed to receive and manage private donations to the university.
The Residential Revival has included the replacement or renovation of eleven of the university's residential facilities with eight new suite-style buildings. This public-private collaboration, a joint project of the Foundation for 亚色影库 and 亚色影库, is the largest of its kind in the nation, costing about $244 million.
In approving the naming, the trustees recognized Stephenson's role in leading the construction of the Residential Revival residence halls 鈥渨ith consistent expertise and wisdom.鈥 They also offered appreciation to Stephenson for his 鈥減rofessional insight to benefit university alumni, students, and prospective students as a career networking volunteer and as an admissions recruitment volunteer.鈥
鈥淎ndrew was not just a key player in the success of the Residential Revival project; he was the key player,鈥 Timothy G. Rupert, Foundation for 亚色影库 board president, said.
鈥淎ndrew is always quick to point out that it took the efforts of many. While true, no one contributed more than he did. His expertise and leadership made the project possible. It is fitting that one of these buildings will bear his name.鈥
A formal naming ceremony for the facility will take place October 8 in conjunction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony symbolizing the completion of the Residential Revival.
Groundbreaking for the Crimson Suites took place July 7, 2009, and it opened to students for the Fall 2010 semester. The facility has 596 beds and is along Maple Street between Pratt Drive and Eleventh Street.
The project was locally financed through First Commonwealth, with participation from S&T Bank, Marion Center National Bank, and Farmers & Merchants Bank of Western PA.
The Foundation for 亚色影库, which owns the buildings, coordinated the construction of the project through developer Allen and O'Hara of Memphis, Tenn.
Massaro Corp. of Pittsburgh was the general contractor, and the buildings were designed by WTW Architects of Pittsburgh.
In addition to his 亚色影库 degree, Stephenson has a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Stephenson practices law in the areas of construction, labor law, and corporate compliance. He is the practice group leader of Holland & Knight's firm-wide Construction Industry Practice Group.
In addition to his extensive experience as an advocate in alternative dispute resolution matters, Stephenson is frequently asked to serve as a private arbitrator or mediator in construction disputes. Stephenson served in the United States Army Reserve from 1972 to 1978 and as an officer with the 11th Special Forces Group from 1975 to 1978.
He has been honored with selection for Chambers USA, Americas Leading Business Lawyers guide, Construction Law, 2004-2010; The Best Lawyers in America guide, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Construction Law, 2006-2011; Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers magazine, 2007-2010; and the May 2009 edition of The Legal 500 USA, Construction Litigation, 2010, and Corporate Counsel Edition, Super Lawyers magazine. He is a member of several professional organizations and has been an invited presenter both nationally and internationally.