Baylor University: East Village Residential Community
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
In August 2013, 700 first-year and upper-division students, faculty and staff enjoyed their first year in Baylor University’s newest residential facility, East Village. The community includes Earle Residence Hall, Teal Residential College and the East Village Dining Commons.
Earle Residence Hall and Teal Residential College each feature four different room configurations, including two- and four-bedroom apartments, coves, and suites. In addition to students, Faculty-in-Residence, residence hall directors and resident chaplains also call East Village Home. These faculty and staff apartments are 800 to 2,400 square feet. The buildings also feature office suites for faculty from partnering academic units.
Earle Residence Hall is home to Baylor’s Science & Health Living-Learning Center. Students studying biology, biochemistry, psychology, neuroscience, medical humanities, nursing, communications disorders or human and health performance may apply to live in the community. Teal Residential College accepts qualified engineering, computer science and bioinformatics students.
Students’ input and feedback were encouraged throughout the design process, which helped shape the vision for study spaces, resident rooms and furniture designs. The community features IdeaPaint, outdoor horseshoes and bocce ball, grill patios and community crests.
The East Village Dining Commons is a two-story facility with offices and a full-service bakery on the first floor. The second floor seats 500 and features the largest rotisserie and Mongolian grill in Waco, TX, as well as a conference room and private dining area for 150. The Commons includes three separate outdoor eating locations, a fresh food concept and gluten-free options.
East Village, along with the rest of the university, is a faith-driven community. Hall staff ensure that residents are supported and guided through their unique faith journeys. Scripture excerpts adorn walls and windows to uplift and encourage students as they pass. A large cross on the front window of the Dining Commons welcomes students as they gather to share meals and conversations together.
This article originally appeared in the issue of .