Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Residence Hall

  • 03/01/20

Architectural firm EUA worked with the state of Wisconsin and University of Wisconsin–Whitewater to design a residence hall for first-year students. The university’s Centers for Students with Disabilities played an integral role in the design phase to ensure the building was universally designed and accessible.

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Residence Hall 

Photo © C&N Photography, LLC

Universal design is an integral part of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s culture. EUA’s in-house accessibility expert worked closely with campus representatives to provide an accessible environment that goes beyond code minimums to create integrated, inclusive spaces for students of all abilities. Enhanced accessible rooms allow for people that have additional disabilities to have a caretaker live in with them so that they can still live in an environment with other students.

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Residence Hall 

Photo © C&N Photography, LLC

The five-story, 400-student residence hall consists of housing areas arranged in pods. The pod arrangement contains two double-occupant bedrooms and a bathroom accessed from a shared entry space. This provides students with an option for more privacy than the other traditional dorms on campus that have centralized multi-occupant bathrooms.

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Residence Hall 

Photo © C&N Photography, LLC

Each floor also has a communal kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave. Upper floors include centralized lounge spaces that support the formation of community. The first floor includes a computer lab, study and multipurpose rooms, a full kitchen and laundry room, along with a front desk and lobby area. These common areas encourage students to get out of their rooms, help with social development and connect with other students.

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Residence Hall 

Photo © C&N Photography, LLC

University of Wisconsin–Whitewater Residence Hall 

Photo © C&N Photography, LLC

This article originally appeared in the March/April 2020 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • Niles West High School Natatorium Renovation

    Natatoriums are highly specialized spaces, and luminaires in this setting face several unique challenges. Perhaps the most significant is corrosion, which is exacerbated by high indoor humidity, condensation, and pool chemicals, often resulting in material degradation in luminaires not certified to perform in corrosive environments.

  • 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