Hub at Douthit Hills earns merit award from The American Institute of Architects South Carolina

CLEMSON — The centerpiece of Clemson University’s newest residential community has been lauded for its architectural design excellence. The Hub at Douthit Hills, which encompasses more than 118,000 square feet across a three-level structure, received a merit award in the new construction category from The American Institute of Architects South Carolina.

The award was presented recently at the annual state conference to Heather Mitchell, president of the project’s lead architect, the Boudreaux Group.

“I was honored to accept the award on behalf of Boudreaux and our many wonderful partners at Clemson University,” Mitchell said. “I want to thank the entire team for its vision, effort and craftsmanship that created an award-winning space for Clemson students to enjoy every day.”

The award was also featured in the institute’s annual publication, South Carolina Architecture. Its distinctive, physical features were cited as primary factors setting it apart from similar designs:

The ground floor level contains a retail market, a coffee shop, campus bookstore and offices for public safety. The second floor contains a campus wellness center. The third floor is a major 450-seat dining hall whose spatial arrangement and interior architecture support three distinctive ‘micro-restaurants.’ Exposed ductwork in areas like the recreation center and the dining hall create fun, contemporary spaces befitting of a program geared primarily to student life.

“We were thrilled to hear that the Hub at Douthit Hills was recognized in this way,” said Kathy Hobgood, assistant vice president for University Housing & Dining. “From design concept through to implementation, this project was a true case study in creating environments that enhance the student experience. Clemson University invests in student success and we are proud to have partners like Boudreaux Group, Ayers Saint Gross Architects and Holder Construction, whose efforts and talents have been integral to realizing that goal!”

In the first year of operation, University Housing & Dining staff served more than 435,000 total customers in the Hub, which includes retail transactions in Freshens, Starbucks and the Village Market. Located on the second level, the Douthit Hills Fitness Center also added a significant resource to the Campus Recreation inventory for students. More than 7,000 unique student visitors accessed the new recreational space in the first year after its opening mid-fall semester.