Over in Atlanta's West End, a big new student housing building is officially on its way. On Oct. 15, developers, college leaders and Mayor Andre Dickens gathered at 850 West End Avenue to celebrate the groundbreaking of The Den at Eight50 West, a $147 million project that will house students from Morehouse College and Spelman College.
The work itself got going a little earlier. According to the announcement from Radnor Property Group, the lead development partner, construction started in July 2026, and the building is expected to be ready for students by fall 2028.
The Den will have 793 beds in 305 apartment-style units. That works out to roughly two and a half beds per apartment on average, and Radnor describes the units as apartment-style rather than traditional dorm rooms.
Radnor lists the amenities as a lobby staffed around the clock, outdoor recreation space, a fitness room, community lounges, bike storage, a dog run and study rooms.
Do a little math on the price tag and it comes to about $185,000 per bed. That's a big, dense building on an urban lot, and a lot of construction dollars landing in one neighborhood.
The team
Here's the part contractors will want to clip and save. Radnor says Clark Construction and CD Moody Construction are building the project as a joint venture, serving as construction manager. Moody Nolan is the architect, Pape-Dawson is the civil engineer, and Radnor Campus Management, a joint venture of Radnor and COCM, will manage the property once it opens.
Radnor, based in Philadelphia, has been at it since 1999 and says its development projects add up to more than $4 billion, with a focus on public-private partnerships like this one.
Madrone Community Development Foundation is Radnor's partner on the deal. Madrone describes itself as a public benefit corporation that provides facilities for institutions through public-private financing.
Tim Gigliotti, Radnor's managing director of development, called it "a historic milestone in this first-of-its-kind joint housing partnership," since the two colleges are going in on the building together.
"Atlanta has always been a city where excellence and higher education go hand in hand," Dickens said. "The Den at Eight50 West is an investment for the next generation of graduates."
Morehouse and Spelman are neighbors in the Atlanta University Center, and Radnor says the project supports both colleges' plans for campus and enrollment growth. Spelman alone has about 2,700 students, according to the release. Spelman President Dr. Ayanna Howard said the project is part of the college's commitment to "removing barriers to student success." Morehouse President Dr. F. DuBois Bowman said investments in student housing "foster academic, social, and personal growth."
Blair Tavenner, Madrone's chief operating officer, gave the line that'll ring true for anybody who's sweated through permitting and financing on a big job. "When these doors open, the students who move in won't know about the zoning hearings or the financing deadlines," Tavenner said. "They'll just know they have a safe, affordable place to call home."
A long build in a tight spot
With construction starting in July 2026 and move-in aimed at fall 2028, this is roughly a two-year build. Student housing has a hard deadline that most jobs don't: the building needs to be ready before students show up for the fall semester. That tends to put pressure on the schedule, especially for the finish trades near the end.
It's also an urban site, steps from both campuses, which means tight staging, coordinated deliveries and working around a busy neighborhood full of students and residents.
Why it matters for Contractors
A $147 million building with 305 apartments means a long list of trade packages under the construction management team: concrete, structure, framing or metal studs, roofing and waterproofing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, fire protection, elevators, drywall, flooring, millwork, painting and site work. Clark and CD Moody are the names to know if you want to bid scopes on this job, and with construction already underway, early packages may be spoken for, but later finish and specialty work usually comes up as the building rises. Smaller and local subs should look into whether the team has outreach or participation goals on the project. And with a fall 2028 move-in target, crews that can hit dates late in the job will be worth their weight.