Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Aurora University Completes Residence Hall for Neurodiverse Students

  • By Matt Jones
  • 06/08/23

Aurora University in Aurora, Ill., recently completed construction on a new campus residence hall geared toward students on the autism spectrum, according to a news release. The five-story Don and Betty Tucker Hall includes space for 70 resident rooms and will also play home to the university’s Pathways program, which serves young adults on the spectrum. The university partnered with Cordogan, Clark & Associates for the building’s design and The Boldt Company for its construction.

The news release reports that the 35,109-square-foot residence hall is one of the first of its kind in the U.S. to be built from the ground up. According to retired university president Dr. Rebecca L. Sherrick, about 40 percent of young people on the autism spectrum are capable of attending college. “We also know that they have huge contributions to make in the workplace and society,” she said. “Those students need a safe and secure home environment on campus to fulfill their potential.”

Design elements specific to sensory-sensitive students include calm and muted color palettes; seamless drywall to minimize lines and distractions; adjustable light systems in all spaces; acoustic materials within walls to reduce sound; vinyl flooring to muffle footsteps; common areas with adjustable seating and quiet study areas; and a fitness center and study rooms on each floor.

The ground floor will also play home to the Betty Parke Tucker Center for Neurodiversity.

“I can see where this is a huge deal,” said Boldt Project Manager Ali Burke. “It’s really important for everybody to have an opportunity like this to learn and to have an environment for them to excel in.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • URI Cuts Underwater Ribbon on New Ocean Robotics Laboratory

    The University of Rhode Island recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, according to a news release. Two students used a remotely operated vehicle to cut an underwater ribbon in a 30-by-20-foot test tank.

  • Dallas ISD Voters Approve $6.2B Bond Package

    Dallas ISD voters have approved a record-setting $6.2-billion bond package that district leaders say will modernize aging campuses, eliminate portable classrooms and reshape learning environments across one of the nation’s largest school systems.

  • CU-Lock Haven Receives $1.75M Gift for New Entrepreneurship, Media Center

    Commonwealth University-Lock Haven in Lock Haven, Penn., recently received a $1.75-million donation from entrepreneur and alumnus Nicholas Subich ’17, according to a university news release. The funds will go toward establishing the Nicholas Subich Center for Entrepreneurship and Media, a technology-driven hub for innovation and experiential learning.