UConn Board of Trustees Approves New Residence Hall

The Board of Trustees for the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Conn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall in south campus.

A university news release reports that the new residence hall, scheduled to open in fall 2024, will have 657 beds and a dining hall with a capacity of 500. The new dorm will stand near the existing South Campus Residence Halls to create a new, shared courtyard between the two.

The project’s budget is $215 million, and funds will come mainly through UConn-issued special obligation bonds, according to the news release. Amenities are set to include communal and private lounges and common spaces, a game room, seminar rooms and meeting rooms, bicycle storage, laundry facilities and multipurpose spaces. The new dining hall was also designed to lessen wait times at other campus dining facilities.

The facility was designed with sustainability features meeting LEED Gold requirements and Connecticut High Performance Building standards. The building will use geothermal wells to tap into the planet’s stable temperature and reduce energy consumption, the news release reports. Landscaped stormwater management areas will also limit water runoff into the nearby Mirror Lake.

The university partnered with architecture firm Sasaki for the building’s design, according to the UConn website.

About the Author

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

Featured

  • Sam Houston State University Completes Athletic Stadium Renovations

    Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, recently announced the reopening of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium after an extensive renovation project, according to a news release. The university partnered with Stantec and DLR Group for the project’s design.

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • University of Pittsburgh to Build New Residence Hall

    The Board of Trustees from the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Penn., recently approved the construction of a new residence hall for first-year students, according to university news.

  • Philadelphia Middle School Facility Earns LEED Gold Certification

    The Alternative Middle Years (AMY) at James Martin Middle School in Philadelphia, Penn., recently received a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The School District of Pennsylvania partnered with KSS Architects on the project.