CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Kahu Cordell Kekoa blessed Frear Hall yesterday at a dedication ceremony. The building is the first new dormitory on the UH-Manoa campus in 30 years.

UH opens new dorm

Student life: Project has modern amenities

The 810-bed Frear Hall features air conditioning, flat-screen televisions in the recreation room and storage for surfboards. It is eligible for LEED silver certification, a rating system for environmentally sustainable construction.

UH officials emphasized the project was completed on time and on schedule and confirmed that American Campus Communities, an Austin-based student housing company, received its final payment last month for managing the development of the dorm.

According to company fillings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, American Campus Communities was to receive a final payment of about $1.8 million for the successful completion of the Frear Hall project, bringing the total fees earned for the $71 million project to $3.1 million.

Also dedicated yesterday was an $8.4 million expansion of the cafeteria at Gateway House. The cafeteria expansion will enable the university to handle the additional students at Frear.

The addition of Frear will also enable UH-Manoa to shut down one of the four Hale Aloha tower dorms for renovations. A second tower will be shut down in the spring.

"This building (Frear Hall) will serve as one of the most visible reminders that campus renewal is under way," UH-Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said during the ceremonies yesterday.

Students will move into the new dorm Aug. 23.