Dorms such as Centennial Place are becoming the norm on college campuses across the Southeast, according to Joe Dusek, vice president of Hardin's Atlanta office. The contractor has also built residence halls at colleges in the Atlanta metropolitan area, such as Georgia State, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State, he says.

"We have seen some progression toward voice-data and security systems," Dusek tells GlobeSt.com, adding that dorm cards can also be used for other purposes besides building access, such as paying for laundry machines. There is also less emphasis on private kitchens in dorm rooms, in an effort to keep students from being too isolated from the campus population, he says.

GSU has applied for franchises for Quizno's Subs and Cold Stone Creamery to operate within Centennial Place, along with a Pickle Barrel convenience store and an Eagle Print Shop. The building will contain close to 8,000 sf of retail space.

While some of its dorms have become functionally obsolete, GSU has made an effort over the last five years to upgrade campus housing, Dusek says. Earlier this year, the college bought the 472-bed Campus Courtyard Apartments and renamed the complex University Villas.