Add as a preferred source on Google

Construction Complete on University of Colorado Boulder’s Newest and Largest Residence Hall

  • 12/11/19

BOULDER, CO – The new Williams Village East residence hall at the University of Colorado Boulder proudly welcomed its first students in August for the fall 2019 semester. The 178,000-square-foot residence hall, the university’s largest, houses a total of 705 students. The $96.7 million residence hall was designed by St. Louis-based KWK Architects as part of the design-build team, which also included architect-of-record alm2s of Fort Collins, CO, and Whiting-Turner Contracting Company of Denver, CO. Construction on Williams Village East began in August 2017.

Important aspects of the seven-story hall’s design is its sustainability, dedication to student privacy and focus on community.

UC Boulder Residence Hall 

Williams Village East features a new bathroom design that gives each student maximum privacy. The gender-neutral, individual bathrooms each include a shower, sink, toilet and changing space to accommodate student requests for more privacy.

Williams Village East was designed to achieve a LEED Platinum certification under LEED v4. Some of its sustainability features include numerous windows to let in natural light and windows with electrochromic glazing that adjust the shading based on the time of day and year. A pond that uses ditch water from snowmelt supplies the Williams Village Campus and saves the campus 13 million gallons of water per year.

The windows in the student bedrooms feature magnets that turn off the heating or cooling systems when the windows are opened, and a vacancy sensor in each room turns off the lights and turns down the heating or cooling levels when students leave the room. A black switch turns off “phantom loads,” or electronics that are left plugged in when not in use to conserve electricity. Other renewable energy features of the building include solar panels, LED lighting, recycling areas, green outlets, thermostats in each room, low-flow toilets and urinals, door closers and a VRF HVAC system.

Sustainability is also playing a role in building community in the new hall by grouping floors into sustainability teams that compete to use the least amount of water and energy. Winning teams can earn community reward parties throughout the semester.

Community wellness is also promoted in the building’s wayfinding graphics which feature photography of local Boulder nature destinations. The destinations are also mapped out on a full-scale wall map in the first-floor game room, encouraging students to get out and find the featured destinations. Another way community and student interaction is promoted is in the main level great room, which features a community center staffed by students that includes a kitchen and living room area, plus a gaming area with large televisions hooked up to Sony PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, plus other games.

The Williams Village East exterior was designed to match the architectural style and finish of Williams Village North, which opened in August 2011.

Featured

  • Minnesota Middle School Finishes $23.5M Addition and Modernization

    Highland Park Middle School in St. Paul, Minn., recently announced the completion of a $23.5-million addition and remodel project, according to a news release. Saint Paul Public Schools partnered with ATS&R Planners, Architects & Engineers for its design and Kraus-Anderson for its construction.

  • Upcoming University of Alabama Performing Arts Center Hits Construction Milestone

    The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently celebrated the topping out of its new Smith Family Center for Performing Arts, according to a news release. The university is partnering with HPM for program and project management on the facility, which broke ground in 2023 and is scheduled for completion in November 2026.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

Digital Edition