IRVINE, CA—There are many opportunities for builders within the higher-education market, but C.W. Driver Cos. is seeing a particular increase in demand for student housing, in both new construction and renovation projections, Paul Ruig tells GlobeSt.com. Ruig was recently promoted to VP of the firm's Greater Los Angeles region, covering L.A. and Orange counties.

In his new role, Ruig will work with project owners and architects to oversee construction projects from preconstruction and planning phases to final project delivery. He will also develop new business opportunities in the region, with a focus on hospitality, commercial, education, entertainment and studio work. A LEED-accredited professional, Ruig moved up the ranks at C.W. Driver after serving as a project executive, project director and senior project manager.

We spoke with Ruig about the Orange County construction market, how his firm differs from other builders and his outlook for higher-education building.

GlobeSt.com: How is the Orange County market unique in regards to construction?

Ruig: Orange County truly is its own market, with a price per square foot across all project types that isn't comparable to other areas of the country. There is significant pent-up demand for construction, with developers trying to bring projects to fruition while the cost of money is still low and before rates substantially increase. The biggest challenge right now in this market is finding enough subcontractors to support this demand. Many subcontractors left the industry during the recession and never returned to the industry, depleting the workforce. From project managers to engineers to concrete finishers, talent might have to be brought in from outside the area until the local talent supply starts to meet demand.

GlobeSt.com: How does C.W. Driver Cos. differentiate itself from other builders in this arena?

Ruig: From Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean to Pacific City to the Newport Beach Country Club, C.W. Driver's breadth of expertise across such varied markets is unmatched in the area. Our affiliate, Driver SPG, specializes in executing challenging, specialized projects in very short time periods, while C.W. Driver manages a diverse portfolio of comprehensive projects.

What really sets us apart, though, is our employees. As one of Engineering News Record's top 150 general contractors and top 100 construction managers, we are able to attract some fantastic talent, and we make it a priority to keep them. The company invests in leadership and professional-development programs and promotes work-life balance with flex-time, work-from-home Fridays and activities that involve employees' families such as go-karting, baseball games and barbeques. Our REACH! philanthropic program gives employees an opportunity to give back to the local community together through company-sponsored beach cleanups, golf tournament fundraisers, mud runs and more.

GlobeSt.com: What is your outlook for higher education building?

Ruig: There are so many opportunities within the higher-education market, but we are seeing a particular increase in demand with student housing, both in new construction and renovation projects. There is a need to update older housing with the modern amenities that current and prospective students want and to bring old buildings up to code with necessities such as fire sprinklers.

Particularly in high cost-of-living areas such as Los Angeles and Orange County, many students can't afford to live near campus. When they are forced to commute to class, either from home or from a lower-cost area, it reduces the sense of community and makes the college less attractive to potential attendees. To remain competitive, colleges are ramping up student-housing building.

GlobeSt.com: Is the demand for student housing increasing at community colleges as well?

Ruig: The demand for more student housing at community colleges is especially strong. No longer solely commuter schools, community colleges now want to provide a place for students to live, study, shop and spend time with friends.

At Orange Coast College, we are currently working on an 819-bed apartment complex that includes studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom units along with a community lounge space, multipurpose rooms and administrative spaces. The way the 324,000-gross-square-foot complex is positioned along with the prominent entry plaza will make it a focal point of the campus with high-foot traffic from both residents and those who live off of campus. The second phase of the OCC project will bring the count up to 2,000 beds. These types of projects are becoming more pervasive at community colleges throughout Southern California.

GlobeSt.com: What else should readers know about the topic?

Ruig: In addition to an increase in housing demand, we are seeing a huge demand for new state-of-the-art science buildings. With the US continuing to fall behind other countries in science and math, and the push for more students to pursue STEM degrees, colleges want to provide the best facilities possible.

We are currently working on a new 150,000-square-foot science-and-technology center for Chapman University in Orange and a new 91,000 square foot science and health building for Biola University in La Mirada that will house the nursing, biological sciences, chemistry and physics program, as well as an 87,000-square-foot science-and-innovation center for CSU Dominguez Hills that includes laboratories, faculty offices, a STEM innovations center and fabrication laboratory. Higher-education campuses need these types of facilities to incorporate the latest technology and to attract students going into these growing fields.

We spoke with Ruig about the Orange County construction market, how his firm differs from other builders and his outlook for higher-education building.

GlobeSt.com: How is the Orange County market unique in regards to construction?

GlobeSt.com: How does C.W. Driver Cos. differentiate itself from other builders in this arena?

GlobeSt.com: What is your outlook for higher education building?

GlobeSt.com: Is the demand for student housing increasing at community colleges as well?

GlobeSt.com: What else should readers know about the topic?

Instant Insights /

Student-Housing Construction Demand Rises

Related Stories

Recommended For You