New Initiative to Create Residence Hall of the Future
It’s no longer enough for a college residence hall to just provide four walls and a bed. The campus housing of today must foster learning and comfort while balancing environmental and technological concerns and do so in a way that’s affordable to both the school and the students.
Now a group of experts, including[contact name, title, and school or organization here], are convening to design the next generation of campus housing as part of the 21st Century Project. The group has scheduled a 21st Century Project summit for February 5-8, 2006 in Chicago
The 21st Century Project is a multi-phased program that will culminate in the construction of a brand new, state-of-the-art college residential facility. Sponsored by the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and its member organizations, this prototype will show how better to accommodate the ever-changing role residence halls play in the collegiate experience and in higher education institutions.
Federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, Department of Education, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development will also be recruited to participate at various stages of the process.
“We are bringing together a wide variety of experts – from both the academic and professional side -- to help us approach the project from every conceivable angle,” said Michael Coakley, project coordinator and also Assistant Vice President of Student Life at Northern Illinois University. “The sustainability and economics of this project will be considered just as highly as sociological and educational factors. Aesthetics and pragmatism will be weighed against each other. It will epitomize all we look for in a quality residence hall.”
Association members are currently collecting and synthesizing data corresponding with ongoing trends in university housing as well as the expanding technological advances within the campus environment. This data, along with the knowledge and experiences of other attendees will be shared at the February summit.
Later that Spring, the group will present its findings to participating college and university officials as well as to vendors, development agencies, and architecture firms.
Participating firms will then begin to produce conceptual plans and massing options for the defined facilities. From these, a committee will choose final designs or design components. That building will later be constructed on a college campus.
“This is not simply a group of people brainstorming a wish list of ideas,” said Sallie Traxler, ACUHO-I Executive Director. “When the project is complete, there will be tangible evidence of our work and we fully expect it to serve as a model for the college residence halls to be built around the world for the next generation.”
For more information about this project and the summit, go to http://www.acuho-i.org and click the 21st Century Project button.
About the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International
The Association of College and University Housing Officers International (ACUHO-I) is the authoritative source of research, resources, and inspiration to promote the professional development of its members. Founded in 1955, the association creates value through services, information, and collegial relationships that are indispensable to its members.
Media inquiries can be directed to James Baumann, ACUHO-I Director of Communications and Marketing, at 614.292.1623 or by e-mail at james@acuho-i.org.