Student housing on college and universities has evolved significantly over the past decade. Providing design that embraces change and leads with the refinement of housing innovations has proven to be important for attracting new students.

Over the past decade, Waynesburg University has created new communities for students on their campus through the development of innovative housing facilities. The design for five new campus residence halls introduced a new housing concept to the campus. The new residence halls provide a blend of selected components of apartment-style buildings with more traditional student-housing elements to meet the enrollment and financial needs of the University. The University’s goal was achieved in providing more contemporary residential space and important marketable amenities.

A three-building, 54,000 sq. ft. complex was the first project and it accommodates more than 150 students. The East, West, and South Hall Complex has enabled the University to institute a plan to create smaller residential ‘communities’ on campus. It was important for the University to be able to group students of similar age, gender, and/or academic focus. The finished design provides this desired flexibility in grouping students by building or floor.

Each room in the complex accommodates two students. Each room has a bathroom and a shared “living room area” and the quarters provide natural light and views through a large expanse of windows. The sleeping/studying/closeting functions are zoned to be personal areas of the individual resident within each room.

After the first full year of use, the project was declared an overwhelming success. “The students love them!” As a result, DRAW Collective was directed to expedite construction of Pollock Hall with a similar room arrangement, followed by Willison Hall, a six-story building which provides housing for 140 students.

Durable materials were selected to create buildings that will withstand the heavy daily use while maintaining an upscale appearance fitting to the campus. Sound attenuation and enhanced fire safety were incorporated into the design without compromising aesthetics.

The success of the initial residence hall complex was recognized nationally by American School & University. The project was included in the publication as a model of how colleges and universities are successfully developing marketable amenities in their campus buildings in order to attract students.