Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., is opening a $47 million housing complex for 344 students.
Four residence halls with a total of 165,000 square feet comprise the South Campus Apartments, the university says. The development will provide living space for juniors and seniors, a central commons building that features à la carte dining, and a large event space for student activities.
Each of the four halls has a lounge with a specific theme selected by students. The themes: a traditional game room with a large-screen TV, table tennis and foosball; a fitness room with medicine balls and yoga mats; a quiet study area; and a creative space for students to collaborate and design projects.
The buildings were designed to incorporate sustainable features with a goal of meeting or exceeding the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Silver standards for energy savings and environmental stewardship.
Among the green features: use of recycled materials; low e-value, gas-filled windows; motion-sensing lights; and a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system designed for low energy consumption. Stormwater runoff is channeled to an underground storage basin with a permeable base, so that water seeps slowly back into the ground after a storm. Any overflow is captured by a series of rain gardens.
The university says the additional housing addresses an institutional goal, outlined in Buckner's campus master plan, of bringing 300 students back to campus living from off-campus housing.
