Designing for Diverse Student Communities
Front Cover: Plymouth State University, Merrill Place
Left:
University of British Columbia, Orchard Commons
Campus Living
Where you live – and how you live – during your college experience becomes a touchstone throughout life. Stories and memories are ever present. We are reimagining the future of residential life to take those lessons and many others toward even more effective experiences and outcomes.
Living on campus offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience to build lifelong friendships, form tight communities, and create memories and experiences that enrich the college experience. With the right program, community size, and common amenities, the results and quality of the residential life experience can be truly transformational.
The home address for residential communities on campus that strengthens student success.
Residential life is broad in definition. It spans from firstyear to upper division to graduate to faculty and staff housing. Each of these relates to a different outcome, a different mission. The choreography of these experiences from the front door to the bedroom or apartment can lead to success in many ways…empowerment, collaboration, learning, respite, and retreat. So it should come as no surprise that the most effective student housing is informed on guiding principles:
nj Intentionality in space and organization is the overall measure of success
nj Right-sizing communities through clarity and identity of micro and macro frameworks
nj Successful living units are tailored to student demographics
nj Living learning environments provide intentionality of student success
nj Diversity and inclusion is at the forefront of gender fluid communities
nj Social common spaces and amenities are the figurative hearths of student housing
nj Focused group interactions – individual and collaborative –lead to the outcome that learning happens everywhere
nj The science of small and micro units is at the forefront for graduate students on campus
nj Sustainable principles can lead to behavioral change and co-ownership of resources
Bridgewater State University, Weygand Hall
Selected Projects
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mixed-Use Graduate Apartment Tower
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Client: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Size: 480,000 square feet (44,593 square meters)
Completion Date: 2020
Sustainability: LEED Gold ®
Awards: Progressive Architecture Awards, Honorable Mention, 2018; IIDA New England Design Awards, Student Housing, 2021; AIA New England, Merit Award, 2021; AIA New England, People’s Choice Award, 2021; BSA Design Awards, Honor Awards for Design Excellence, Award, 2021; AIA New York Design Awards, Honor Award, 2022; Cambridge Historical Commission, Preservation Award, 2022; Architizer A+Awards Jury Winner, Mixed Use, 2022; AZ Awards, Architecture, Multi-Unit Residential Buildings, Award of Merit, 2022
Partners: NADAAA
― WHAT IT IS
The urban development adds 450 graduate apartments over childcare, garden, Admissions headquarters, MIT’s Innovation Initiative, retail, and parking.
Graduate student apartments in a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and efficiency units on the upper levels of the tower.
UC College of the Law, San Francisco, Academe at 198
San Francisco, California
Client: UC College of the Law, San Francisco
Size: 365,000 square feet (33,910 square meters)
Completion Date: 2023
Partners: Greystar and Build Group
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The newest addition to UC Law’s Academic Village where students from different disciplines — business, law, and medicine — can live and work together to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges and recognize their shared purpose.
Toronto Metropolitan University, Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex
Toronto, Ontario
Client: Toronto Metropolitan University
Size: 290,000 square feet (26,942 square meters)
Completion Date: 2019
Awards: Award of Merit, Public Buildings in context, Toronto Urban Design Awards, 2021; Committee on the Environment (COTE) Top Ten Awards, American Institute of Architects, 2021; Excellence in Architecture for a New Building Honor Award, The Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), 2021; Award of Excellence, Mixed Use, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), 2021; Award of Merit, Design Awards, AIA Canada Society, 2020
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A mixed-use living and learning community focused on health, wellness, and innovation in education.
Toronto Metropolitan University, Daphne Cockwell Health Sciences Complex
Weill Cornell Medicine,
New Student Residence at 74th
New York, New York
Client: Weill Cornell Medicine
Size: 170,000 square feet (15,794 square meters)
Completion Date: 2025
― WHAT IT IS
An inclusive and vibrant community of 225 residents linked through spaces of collaboration and activity balanced with privacy and respite.
Keene State College, Living+Learning Commons
Client: Keene State College
Size: 85,000 square feet (7,897 square meters)
Completion Date: 2016
Sustainability: Carbon Neutral, ZNEB Ready Awards:
Excellence in Architecture Design Award, AIA New Hampshire, 2017
Honor Award for Design Excellence, Boston Society of Architects, 2017
Keene, New Hampshire ― WHAT IT IS
An intentionally programmed and designed living learning community for 350 students with a clear hub.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
On day one, the client set the bar for this project to operate without fossil fuels - it exceeded all sustainability goals.
Keene State College, Living+Learning Commons
Florida International University
Tamiami Hall
Miami, Florida
Client: Florida International University
Size: 295,000 square feet (27,406 square meters)
Completion Date: 2022
Next generation student housing that enhances connectivity within the FIU campus.
Mobility, integration with nature, diversity of spaces, day-lighting, and passive security strategies were
essential drivers in the development of the overall experience
Florida International University, Tamiami Hall
The natural setting is reinforced with the introduction of a redefined lake, a new campus promenade, and a collection of outdoor experiences that partner with the drivers of wellness, collaboration, and vibrant student life.
Smith College, Cutter & Ziskind Houses Renovation
Northampton, Massachusetts
Client: Smith College
Size: 68,500 square feet (6,364 square meters)
Completion Date: 2014
Sustainability: LEED Silver ®
A meticulous midcentury renovation to a treasured house program with 168 beds, integral dining, and beautiful landscape.
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Renovation that is sensitive to technical rigor and mid-century modern vibes add value to its heritage and preserve its traditions.
Smith College, Cutter & Ziskind Houses Renovation
University of British Columbia, Orchard Commons
Vancouver, British Columbia
Client: University of British Columbia
Size: 448,000 square feet (41,620 square meters)
Completion Date: 2016
Sustainability: LEED ® Canada NC 2009 Gold Registered Awards:
Award of Excellence, Interior Design Institute of British Columbia (Open Kitchen), 2017
A mixed-use residence hall with 1,049 beds, dining, classrooms, administrative space, and a daycare for UBC Vantage College.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Designed for innovative vertical communities that combine first-year international students with academic English programming.
University of British Columbia, Orchard Commons
Bridgewater State University, George A. Weygand Hall
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Client: Bridgewater State University
Size: 160,000 square feet (14,864 square meters)
Completion Date: 2014
Sustainability: LEED Gold ®
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Collaborating with stakeholders and students, a Zero-Net-Energy Building (ZNEB) Pilot Study resulted in holistic, sustainable, low impact performance.
Bridgewater State University, George A. Weygand Hall
University of Victoria Cheko’nien and Sngequ Houses and Dining
Victoria, British Columbia
Client: University of Victoria
Size: 333,000 square feet ( 31,000 square meters)
Completion Date: 2023
Sustainability: LEED v4 Gold (Cheko’nien House), LEED v4 Gold (Target), Passive House (Target)
Awards: Canadian Green Building Awards, SABMag, 2024; Net-Zero Energy-Ready Challenge, CleanBC, 2019
The light-filled multi-purpose room with views to plaza and commons below.
The project is designed to achieve certification under the Passive House standard with a commercial kitchen capable of serving 8,700 meals per day—an unprecedented task.
University of California San Diego, Pepper Canyon West Student Housing
La Jolla, California
Client: University of California San Diego
Size: 670,000 square feet (65,032 square meters)
Completion Date: 2024
Partners: Clark Construction
― WHAT IT IS
A 1316-bed upper Upper division student residence programmed and designed to be integral to nature and the canyon while managing scale and sculpture with a sinuous ribbon.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
The building is surrounded by active landscaped courtyards that will integrate with larger campus networks of open spaces, bicycle paths, pedestrians, walkways, and campus building fabric.
University of California San Diego, Pepper Canyon West Student Housing
Plymouth State University, Merrill Place
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Client: Plymouth State University
Size: 95,000 square feet (8,826)
Completion Date: 2017
Awards:
Honor Award, AIA New Hampshire, 2019
― WHAT IT IS
Merrill Place is both a 350-bed residential living community and a multipurpose event space.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Merrill Place flips to become a hotel in the Summer months for tourists, events, and conferences - bringing in valued revenue.
Plymouth State University, Merrill Place
Roger Williams University, North Campus Residence Hall
Bristol, Rhode Island
Client: Roger Williams University
Size: 120,000 square feet (11,148 square meters)
Completion Date: 2009
Sustainability: LEED ®
Awards:
SCUP/AIA CAE Merit Award for Excellence in Architecture, Society for College and University Planning, 2010
Gold Award, Building Design + Construction, 13th Annual Building Team Awards, 2010, Architectural Commendation Award, Perkins&Will Biennale, 2010
Honor Award for Design Excellence, BSA/AIA, 2010, Design Award, AIA New England Chapter, 2010
The 350-bed gateway residence hall provides an incredible diversity of living options for students, including living learning communities with access to seminar rooms, lounges, a game room, a convenience store, and outdoor recreational spaces.
― WHAT MAKES IT COOL
Boasting a chic look and beautiful views toward Mt. Hope Bay, this residence hall is designed to reflect the lifestyle of upper division students.
Roger Williams University, North Campus Residence Hall
Since 1935, we’ve believed that design has the power to make the world a better, more beautiful place. That’s why clients and communities on nearly every continent partner with us to design healthy, happy places in which to live, learn, work, play, and heal. We’re passionate about humancentered design, and committed to creating a positive impact in people’s lives through sustainability, resilience, well-being, diversity, inclusion, and research. In fact, Fast Company named us one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture. Our global team of 2,700 creatives and critical thinkers provides integrated services in architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and more. Our partners include Danish architects Schmidt Hammer Lassen; retail strategy and design consultancy Portland; sustainable transportation planning consultancy Nelson\Nygaard; and luxury hospitality design firm PierreYves Rochon (PYR).
For more information, contact:
highereducation@perkinswill.com