Manzanita Hall

Originally designed in 1967, Manzanita Hall quickly became an icon on the ASU campus with its unique geometric exterior design; however, after over 40 years of housing more than 40,000 students, the residence hall was in poor condition. A feasibility study exploring renovation or replacement strategies for the residence hall revealed that replacement would be a far easier undertaking; however, it was ultimately decided to renovate the building due to its iconic character and importance to alumni.

The renovation sought to improve physical and social connections, increase natural light into the building, and integrate new technology. Working within the constraints of the existing building, the design team reconfigured the floor plans to accommodate a more efficient layout, consisting of suites of two double-occupancy rooms with a shared bathroom. Two-story communal lounges and kitchens were added within new “found space” by extending the original northwest exterior wall to the L-shaped shear walls and adding floor-to-ceiling glass. The original exterior bracing is now part of the interior, demarcating each lounge’s mezzanine.

A new exterior enclosure was designed to work with the existing exterior bracing system. This solution also allowed for the new enclosure to run uninterrupted behind the braces and consequently perform at a higher thermal efficiency.

University Arizona State University

Location Tempe, AZ

Building Size 211,000 SF, 810 beds

Sustainability LEED Silver

Awards

AIA Arizona Distinguished Building Honor Award

SCUP/AIA-CAE Excellence in Architecture for Restoration or Preservation - Honor Award

Student Housing Business Innovator Award, On-Campus: Best Renovation of Existing Dorm