The Standard at Bloomington

Bloomington, Ind.

Award of Merit

Submitted by: Landmark Properties

Owner: Landmark Properties

Lead Design Firm/Structural/MEP/Interior Design/Landscape Architect: Boarman Kross Vogel Group Inc.

General Contractor: Landmark Construction

Civil Engineer: Smith Design Group

Subcontractors: R. H. Marlin Excavating LLC; Lithko Contracting; Solomon Plumbing; Huston Electric; R.T. Moore Mechanical Contractors; Drywall Enterprises LLC


Comprised of three separate buildings connected via sky bridges, this off-campus student housing community is located steps from Indiana University’s campus.

Totaling 700,000 sq ft, the Standard features 1,064 beds across 439 units ranging from a mix of studios to five bedrooms, all with 9-ft ceilings. A 33,000-sq-ft exterior space features a swimming pool and spa, an exterior jumbotron, grilling stations and firepits, while another 30,000 sq ft interior amenity package includes a sauna, fitness center, sports simulator, rock climbing wall, gaming lounge, study areas, dog park, indoor basketball court and pickleball courts.

Modifying the project into three individual buildings allowed the team to take advantage of the sloping site and reduce the project’s massing. Each building was treated as its own entity with its own superintendents and three dedicated subcontractor crews.

When contaminated soils were discovered while excavating for footings at Buildings 1 and 2, the team overexcavated up to 10 ft and added additional caissons to support the foundations. While the unexpected challenge added 72 days to the schedule and approximately $2 million in costs, the project delivered a day early and $13,000 under budget.