St. John's University Seton Townhomes: Vibrant Housing for Student Life

Project Overview

BKBM Engineers provided structural engineering services for the Seton Townhomes located in Flynntown Village, a two-story, apartment-style townhouse development designed to accommodate 144 upperclassmen at Saint John’s University (SJU) in Collegeville, MN. This project reflects a major upgrade to SJU’s residential inventory, offering greater flexibility, inclusivity, and a stronger sense of community for upperclassmen.

Project Highlights

  • Flexible Apartment-Style Living:
    • Each townhome unit includes a partial basement for utilities and storage, as well as a mix of six-bedroom communal units and accessible one-bedroom designs.
    • Upper floor cantilevers provide a distinct, modern architectural exterior and maximize usable living space.
    • Ample green spaces foster both privacy and opportunities for social interaction among residents.
  • Resilient and Efficient Structural Systems:
    • Foundations utilize spread footings and grade beams, seamlessly transitioning between units with and without partial basements to optimize structural stability and cost-effectiveness.
    • Thoughtful collaboration with project architects resulted in practical, durable support for both communal and accessible layouts, ensuring full inclusivity.
  • Campus Connectivity:
    • Bridge foundation design included cast-in-place concrete footings, piers, and abutments for a new pedestrian bridge over Stumpf Lake, linking Flynntown Village directly to the main SJU campus (bridge superstructure by bridge supplier).

Engineering Solutions

BKBM developed cost-effective, adaptable foundation designs for mixed-use townhome layouts and bridge integration. Partial basements were optimized for building systems and student storage, while upper floor cantilevers created architectural interest and functional value. Collaboration with university, design partners, and contractors ensured campus goals and residential needs were met.

Results & Impact

Flynntown Village delivers high-quality, modern apartment-style townhomes with flexible, accessible layouts—providing both community-oriented and private spaces for Saint John’s University upperclassmen. BKBM’s structural engineering ensured resilient, efficient construction, architectural distinction, and vibrant campus connectivity through a new pedestrian bridge.