ACUHO-I News Blog

Campus: Davenport University (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Name: South Hall
Opened: August 2009
Cost: $16.5 million
Architect: Integrated Architecture

When Davenport University began to provide on-campus housing four years ago, no one expected the change in student population would be so drastic. Davenport’s 13 off-campus sites serve primarily non-traditional students, but the new main campus is used by a whole different crowd.

The first residence hall on this campus opened in 2005 and held about 100 students, but more room was needed, with the traditional student base doubling every year. With South Hall, the third residence facility on campus, the residential population has grown to 400. Not only that, but the construction on the project included foundation footprints attached to South Hall for future housing that will increase that number to 500.

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Campus: California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo, California)
Name: Poly Canyon Village
Opened: September 2009
Cost: $239 million
Architect: Clark Construction and Niles Bolton Associates Design-Build Team

The students living in Cal Poly’s newest housing facility enjoy more than just the modest comforts of a traditional residence hall; they truly have a whole village. The nine four- and five-story buildings of the Poly Canyon Village complex fill up more than 1.4 million square feet and span 30 acres, housing 2,670 students in one of the largest student housing developments in America.

The 618 apartment-style units house four to six residents in mostly private bedrooms. The apartments surround a retail plaza that includes well-known dining facilities and vendors for bagels, coffee and smoothies. Other services include a post office, a copy center, and a dry cleaner. There is also a community center within the village that offers a swimming pool, study rooms, a knowledge center, a conference room, a music practice room, a sand volleyball court, basketball courts, and a billiards lounge.

The complex is the largest LEED certified student housing community nationwide, achieving the Gold level through a wide range of green features. The use of drought tolerant, native plants reduces irrigation use and bioswale landscape elements mitigate surface water runoff. The building includes low flow, high efficiency plumbing fixtures and low VOC products. Over 90 percent of construction waste was recycled and over 40 percent of the building materials were sourced regionally.  Also, in addition to two parking garages, Cal Poly officials also opted to include covered bike storage and accessible pedestrian pathways to encourage alternate transportation.

Editor’s Note: Spotlight is a recurring feature in this blog as well as Talking Stick magazine that focuses on newly-opened residence halls. Whether it is through design, construction, programs, or features, we look to put the spotlight on those deserving halls. To submit a hall from your campus, e-mail talkingstick@acuho-i.org.

Editor’s Note: Spotlight is a recurring feature in this blog as well as Talking Stick magazine that focuses on newly-opened residence halls. Whether it is through design, construction, programs, or features, we look to put the spotlight on those deserving halls. To submit a hall from your campus, e-mail talkingstick@acuho-i.org.

Campus: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Name: East Hall
Opened: July 2008
Cost: $33 million (construction)
Architect: Cannon Design

When Worcester Polytechnic Institute set out to create East Hall, it was with the goal of attracting upperclass students to stay on campus. When completed, it certainly did that with 232 beds in a mix of single- and double-room suites and studio apartments. Students appreciated the building’s amenities and services such as laundry facilities, waste removal and recycling, a fitness room, academic study space, music practice rooms, a game room, and a parking garage. But the LEED Gold-certified building also made a strong statement to the campus’ sustainability commitment.

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