INTRODUCTION

Project #6, Residence Hall (Buildings That Make Space), will deal with the planning and detailed design of a building to house around 100 students in a new freshman residence hall on the grounds of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The idea is to provide “social units” called “houses” that have been found at other colleges and universities to increase freshman satisfaction, socialization, academic performance, and freshman-to-sophomore retention. 410 students are to make design proposals regarding their ideas for the size and configuration of a “house.” 

BUILDINGS THAT MAKE SPACE

There are five university-managed student housing facilities: Cambridge Commons, Kenilworth Square Apartments, Purin Hall, RiverView Residence Hall, and Sandburg Halls. Sandburg Hall is the largest student residence hall on campus. It is a four-tower complex with a capacity of 2,700 students, arranged in three- and four-room suites. The North, South, and West towers were built in 1970, with the East tower opening in 2000. All East Tower suites have full-size kitchens and a dining area. Purin Hall is on the corner of Downer and Kenwood. It is a small building housing approximately 50 students in apartment-style suites. Kenilworth Square is located a mile south of the main campus and has a capacity of about 330 upper-class, graduate, and older students in one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments in a converted Ford factory that also houses classrooms, galleries, and studios of the Peck School of the Arts. RiverView Residence Hall opened to first-year students in 2008, is located several blocks west of Kenilworth Square, and has a capacity of 470 students. There is a 24-hour University Housing shuttle, MCTS, and BOSS (Be On the Safe Side, the university shuttle service) running between the residence hall and the main campus. Cambridge Commons is the newest residence hall project, which opened in 2010 and houses 700 residents. Approximately 140 spaces are available for returning residents in apartment-style suites including living rooms and kitchens.

MASONRY TYPOLOGIES

Masonry can be categorized into a number of typologies which will help us as we design.

(Brick Masonry) (Stone Masonry) (Concrete Masonry) (Veneer Masonry) (Gabion Masonry) (Composite Masonry)

PROGRAM

Project three will deal with the planning and detailed design of a building to house around 100 students in a new freshman residence hall on the grounds of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Housing for around 100 students: These students will share a room. Each student needs a single bed (lofted), a dresser, and a study desk with a chair. Each student should also have a 4’ closet or portion thereof minimum. Toilet and shower facilities could be shared by a house, or shared by suites of 4 students at the designer's choice

“House” Common Spaces: This should include lounge-type seating space, a big screen TV, tables for group study of students, and a small kitchen area for snacks and parties. 

Ground Floor(s) Commons: Provide a common area that accommodates to following areas: classrooms and a grind cafe must be available to the general University without sacrificing the privacy and security of the residential floors. Entry (or entries) for the residence hall, is available by secure fob entry only. No staffed desk. As many 600 sqft classrooms as can be provided, open to all of campus. A cafe and lounge area. A mechanical room of 1200 sqft to serve the whole building.

Urban Landscape and Space Making: Students are to use their buildings (in conjunction with existing buildings) to make coherent public exterior spaces, to enhance the campus pedestrian experience.