Living and learning the suite, green life
BY HOLLY RODRIGUEZ
Media and Public Relations Officer
On a chilly fall morning, construction workers were hammering, welding, measuring and sanding the spaces where students will eat, sleep, bathe and learn in just a few weeks.
A walking tour of the new four-story Lakeview residence hall reveals suite-style living that is eco-friendly down to its very foundation—the perfect backdrop for five of the University's living and learning programs.
The floors are divided into three-person suites with one single and one double bedroom or four-person suites with two double bedrooms. Key eco-friendly features include water and energy conservation. Dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets will conserve water, while personal lighting fixtures and thermostats will help conserve energy.
About 140 men and women will occupy Lakeview, including students from Freeman Hall and students returning from study-abroad programs. In fall 2008, the build- ing will house students in five living and learning programs as well as non-program students.
Students will live in two-bedroom suites, many with views of the lake.
Two existing programs—Civic Engagement House and Outdoor House—will move to Lakeview, along with three new programs: Casa hispanica, Campaign 2008 and Literature: The Heart of the Matter. In fall 2009, Lakeview will transition to housing primarily for sophomores as part of the quality enhancement program (QEP).
"The sophomore year is a tough transition year," says Patrick Benner, associate dean for residence life for Richmond College. "With the QEP plan, we are trying to give students something extra to find their niche."
Living and learning programs were started at Richmond more than 20 years ago with Spinning Your Web. It gave first-year male students with similar interests the opportunity to live together and bond, making a smoother transition to college life. The QEP focuses on sophomores and adds a classroom component to strengthen students' relationships with their professors and each other.
"The idea is to connect the in-classroom with the out-of-classroom experience," says Steve Bisese, vice president for student development. Programs such as Spinning Your Web, RC Extreme and The Outdoor Challenge have proven successful for first-year students. University officials want to duplicate that success with living and learning programs for second-year students.
"The fall semester has a formal course. In the spring semester, students continue their experience with a half-unit course involving a group research or community service project with their professor," says Rick Mayes, associate professor of political science. "In the spring, the students work independently on a project, similar to graduate school, and give a group presentation at the end of the semester."
Lakeview residence hall is scheduled to take returning study abroad and Freeman Hall students in January.
The required courses will be taught in Lakeview's first-floor multi-purpose room.
"This room has multimedia and the same capabilities of any classroom on campus," says Andrew McBride, University architect. A group study room and a computer room also are located on the first floor.
In addition to environmentally-friendly amenities and facilities, McBride says the University was thinking about Lakeview's impact on the environment as early as the design and construction phase. Strict guidelines were followed to qualify and register for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation. LEED is the standard for design, construction and operation of environmentally-friendly buildings.
During construction of Lakeview, low volitility organic-compound paints were used, leftover metal, cardboard and concrete materials were recycled to divert 50 percent of waste from landfills, and 10 percent of building materials were manufactured regionally. An indoor air quality program keeps dust from building up in the duct work and cuts down on potential allergens, no chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were used in refrigerants, construction zones were limited for minimal habitat disruption, and an eco-friendly housekeeping plan has been devised.
"LEED is all about quality of life," McBride says. "The program asks the question, 'How friendly are you to nature and to the community?'"
Heilman Center, Weinstein Center for Recreation and Wellness, and Freeman Hall (which will be renovated after Lakeview opens) are also registered for accreditation, but Weinstein Hall is currently the only LEED-accredited building on campus.