Add as a preferred source on Google

Gallaudet University: Living and Learning Residence Hall 6

  • 10/01/15
Living and Learning Residence Hall 6

PHOTOS © PRAKASH PATEL

In August 2012, Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, opened its newest residence hall and collaboration space, the Living and Learning Residence Hall 6 (LLRH6). The building includes architectural design concepts known as DeafSpace, which emphasizes community building, visual language and the promotion of personal safety and well being.

The DeafSpace Project began on Gallaudet’s campus in 2005 and involved a cross-section of students, staff and faculty. The group developed DeafSpace Guidelines, a catalogue of more than 150 distinct architectural design elements that address the five major touch points between deaf experiences and the built environment: space and proximity, sensory reach, mobility and proximity, light and color, and acoustics.

“DeafSpace codifies ideas and a way of thinking that is embedded in deaf experiences,” says Hansel Bauman, director of campus design and planning at Gallaudet. “At its heart, LLRH6 expresses the unique deaf ways of being. The building was designed to facilitate both planned and spontaneous forms of communication. We created the environment in a way that fosters interaction and self-expression.”

LLRH6, designed by LTL Architects in collaboration with Quinn Evans Architects, is 60,000 square feet, with five floors and 175 beds. Common areas, including a large terraced living room, classrooms, offices and a flexible collaboration studio, are open to the campus community.

“Throughout the design process for LLRH6, the concept of the residence hall as a home has been critical and as a community, we have come together to define what this means,” says Susan Hanrahan, director of residence life.

“LLRH6 gives Gallaudet University students a space where they can live, study, and collaborate in a new way,” says President T. Alan Hurwitz. “The building’s design encourages interaction and fosters a strong sense of community. Innovations, such as LLRH6, are the reason why Gallaudet is the leader in education for deaf and hard of hearing people.”

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Pittsburgh High School Upgrades Athletics Facilities’ Technology

    Plum Senior High School in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently partnered with South-Dakota-based Daktronics through the We’re All Mustangs Here Foundation to upgrade the technology in its athletics facilities, according to a news release. Daktronics designed, built, and installed new LED video displays and finished the project in time for the beginning of the 2025 high-school football season.

  • Florida SouthWestern State College, Skanska Partner for Humanities Hall Renovation

    Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) in Fort Myers, Fla., recently announced that it is partnering with construction firm Skanska to renovate the school’s Humanities Hall, according to a news release.

  • Creating Long-Term Sustainability on College Campuses Through Fair Student Housing

    The quality of student housing can have a significant impact on an individual’s college experience. Today’s higher education institutions face mounting challenges, including declining enrollment, low retention rates between the first and second years, and a rise in student mental health concerns. Thoughtfully designed living spaces can help address these issues by creating environments that promote both academic focus and personal well-being.

  • Empowering People Through Smart, Sustainable Campuses

    Sustainability is facing increasing scrutiny, with some questioning its costs and priorities. Yet for universities, it remains an essential driver of resilience, operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, there is a growing recognition that sustainable transformation is not just about reducing energy consumption and emissions to comply with tightening regulations ‒ it’s about creating vibrant, comfortable environments where people can thrive, innovate and connect. For university leadership, this is a complex balancing act, with rising energy costs and limited budgets only adding to the challenge.

Digital Edition