Events
Design Showcase: The Home
Held February 2007, Phoenix, Arizona
Stackable rooms, fold-out beds, and a one-piece sink and toilet are just some of the features that will be included in the residence hall of the future according to design concepts submitted by Jonathan Levi Architects (JLA) of Boston, Massachusetts. These innovative ideas, along with technological advances such as a smart-media wall and glass walls with adjustable transparencies, earned the company the jury’s grand prize for best design as well as $25,000 at the 21st Century Project Design Showcase presented by the Association of College & University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I).
The event featured presentations from eight teams of developers, some of which paired architecture firms with university partners. These finalists were chosen from nearly 50 original submissions that originated from around the world. Each were asked to focus their design on the individual student living unit of a residence hall.
“There were several amazing ideas presented during the competition,” said 21st Century Project coordinator Michael Coakley who is also the director of residence life for Arizona State University. “Each one offered something that deserves to be carried forward and studied as a possible solution for collegiate housing. As a professional, it is exciting to think about what is, and will be, available to students.”
The winning design, which JLA named flexDorm, stressed the importance of supporting the academic mission of a college or university and being able to provide adjustable spaces to meet a campus’s ever-changing needs. In a statement, Jonathan Levi, FAIA, the lead designer and principal of the firm, explained that, “the spatial arrangement of individuals and the corresponding potentialities for the interchange of ideas affect the very nature of knowledge creation and dissemination. Fixed arrangements imply boundaries and inhibit spontaneous adaptations to new forms of knowing and communicating. Flexible arrangements help blur boundaries and accommodate the spontaneous groupings needed to support change and invention.
“We believe that the architecture of student residences will play a defining role in the future of colleges and universities over the coming decades. JLA is grateful for this opportunity to engage ACUHO-I, its members, and our colleagues in this critical discussion. We look forward to assisting in following through on the many important initiatives raised by the 21st Century Project and its many competition participants.”
“Events like this go to the heart of the ACUHO-I mission,” said Sallie Traxler, the association’s executive director. “We work to educate our members on how they can improve the services and facilities they provide to their students. Even if some of these ideas won’t be available for a few years, it’s important for us to be forward-thinking and identify all that the future of student housing can be.”
Design Showcase: The Home
Held February 2007, Phoenix, Arizona
Stackable rooms, fold-out beds, and a one-piece sink and toilet are just some of the features that will be included in the residence hall of the future according to design concepts submitted by Jonathan Levi Architects (JLA) of Boston, Massachusetts. These innovative ideas, along with technological advances such as a smart-media wall and glass walls with adjustable transparencies, earned the company the jury’s grand prize for best design as well as $25,000 at the 21st Century Project Design Showcase presented by the Association of College & University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I).
The event featured presentations from eight teams of developers, some of which paired architecture firms with university partners. These finalists were chosen from nearly 50 original submissions that originated from around the world. Each were asked to focus their design on the individual student living unit of a residence hall.
“There were several amazing ideas presented during the competition,” said 21st Century Project coordinator Michael Coakley who is also the director of residence life for Arizona State University. “Each one offered something that deserves to be carried forward and studied as a possible solution for collegiate housing. As a professional, it is exciting to think about what is, and will be, available to students.”
The winning design, which JLA named flexDorm, stressed the importance of supporting the academic mission of a college or university and being able to provide adjustable spaces to meet a campus’s ever-changing needs. In a statement, Jonathan Levi, FAIA, the lead designer and principal of the firm, explained that, “the spatial arrangement of individuals and the corresponding potentialities for the interchange of ideas affect the very nature of knowledge creation and dissemination. Fixed arrangements imply boundaries and inhibit spontaneous adaptations to new forms of knowing and communicating. Flexible arrangements help blur boundaries and accommodate the spontaneous groupings needed to support change and invention.
“We believe that the architecture of student residences will play a defining role in the future of colleges and universities over the coming decades. JLA is grateful for this opportunity to engage ACUHO-I, its members, and our colleagues in this critical discussion. We look forward to assisting in following through on the many important initiatives raised by the 21st Century Project and its many competition participants.”
“Events like this go to the heart of the ACUHO-I mission,” said Sallie Traxler, the association’s executive director. “We work to educate our members on how they can improve the services and facilities they provide to their students. Even if some of these ideas won’t be available for a few years, it’s important for us to be forward-thinking and identify all that the future of student housing can be.”
Competition Finalists
Click on a firm name below to launch the Design Gallery and view their entry.
Click on a firm name below to launch the Design Gallery and view their entry.
- Jonathan Levi Architects
(Boston, Massachusetts)
- Mackey-Mitchell Architects
(St. Louis, Missouri) and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- American Campus Communities with WDG Architecture Team
(Austin, Texas)
- Angelini and Associates Architects
(Ann Arbor, Michigan) with Randy Alexander (University of Arkansas)
- Bergmeyer Associates, Inc.
(Boston, Massachusetts)
- CSO Schenkel Shultz
(Indianapolis, Indiana)
- Marks, Thomas Architects
(Baltimore, Maryland)
- RATIO Architects, Inc. (Indianapolis, Indiana) with KI (Green Bay, Wisconsin)
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