Vi Hilbert Hall Receives Innovator Award by Student Housing Business magazine

Vi Hilbert Hall was awarded the “Best Public-Private Partnership Development” at the Student Housing Business magazine’s 10th Annual Innovator Awards on Oct. 19. Vi Hilbert Hall was developed by Capstone in collaboration with Seattle University in a public-private partnership.

The project was selected among 120 student housing developments submitted for a total of 22 award categories. The project was judged on multiple criteria including how it solved a unique need for the university; served as a win-win-win for the school, its residents in the project and the developer; building architecture; design into the campus fabric; and the project’s performance relative to budget and schedule.

At more than 143,000 square feet, Vi Hilbert Hall houses 300 upper-division undergraduate and graduate students and offers amenity and administration office spaces. It is home to Student Financial Services, Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions and the Registrar.

The building’s design team worked within the university’s Major Institutional Master Plan to establish the residence hall as a gateway into the north portion of campus to bring a sense of vitality, energy and safety to this area of campus, previously viewed as a “back door.” The building serves as the starting point for all campus tours by prospective students and their families.

“We are honored to receive this award on behalf of our partnership with Seattle University. Vi Hilbert Hall is a testament to what can be accomplished when university and private partners come together and focus on achieving common goals aimed at benefiting students and improving the campus experience,” says Bruce McKee, principal, Capstone Development Partners. “Seattle University has been an exemplary partner during both preconstruction and in the challenging times since and we are delighted that we can bring the partnership this coveted award.”

Vi Hilbert was designed by Ankrom Moisan Architects, constructed by Howard S. Wright Construction and is operated by Blanton Turner. This is Capstone’s third time receiving the award for Best Public Private Partnership, having previously received the award in 2019 for the New Residence Hall at University of Massachusetts Boston and in 2016 for Cornish Commons at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.