20th Annual Residence Hall Construction Report
Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Joe Agron
Project Snapshot: Living and learning
Mount Ida College, Newton, Mass., has built the first new hall at the college since Malloy Hall was built in 1992. The new building, which houses about 130 students, represents the next generation of student housing. The three-story, 36,000-square-foot brick and stucco structure has an innovative design, modern technologies and energy-efficient features.
The building features two wings joined by glass bridges that glow at night. Two outdoor courtyards connected by a grand and open staircase surround the building. The courtyards tie the edges of the campus together and provide outdoor gathering places.
Living and learning spaces that encourage student interaction are an integral part of the design. The interior combines the best elements of more traditional residence halls into a "pod" design. Each of the six pods is a small community of 22 students who live in different types and sizes of rooms surrounding a common bath area. Lounges and study alcoves are situated in the bridges and hallways between the two wings on each floor.
The third floor of the North Pod houses a "quiet/study" living-learning community, and the top floor of the South Pod houses the 21+ floor, where students of legal age are permitted to possess alcoholic beverages in limited quantities.
The new hall also was designed to meet today's technology needs. All rooms have high-speed Internet access, and the entire building and surrounding courtyards have wireless Internet access. The building utilizes a one-card system that tracks entry into the building.
Funded by revenue bond debt and philanthropic support, the residence hall was completed in May 2008. The project was designed by Finegold Alexander + Associates, Inc. (Boston) and constructed by Cutler Associates (Worcester, Mass.).
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