The project achieves the College’s desire to promote a sense of community with indoor/outdoor social spaces, enriching student life by expanding students’ on-campus living experience through environmentally responsible design.
Single and double–room suites, comprising of 308 beds, with a bed-to-bath ratio of 1 bath for every 4 beds. At each corner entry point are suites for faculty and resident assistants who provide enhanced security and encourage student/teacher interaction. Faculty suites feature double-height interior spaces and exterior patios for informal classes and student interaction. Facility features include entry gates and portals reminiscent of the existing gates throughout the adjacent Claremont campus. Other value-added features include cultural corridors, a courtyard gallery, “growing fields” (student landscape areas), a Pitzer vision wall, art studios, community rooms, patios and terraces, and indoor living/dining spaces.
Design goals:
• Create a self-contained community – complete with a wide selection of amenities that would keep students living on campus for all four years. This lifestyle supports the College’s environmental commitment by encouraging local lifestyles, enabling students to shrink their carbon footprints through less driving and fuel consumption.
• Design environmentally responsible buildings. Students interested in sustainability can live in this learning laboratory as sensitivity for and preservation of the environment is one of the College’s key values.
Sustainable Strategies:
-The two rectangular buildings are oriented along a north-south axis to maximize window flow through the site.
-A single –loaded corridor, dutch doors, and double-glazed operable windows on opposite sides of dorm rooms maximize natural ventilation, social interaction and visual connection to the outside. Overhangs and perforated metal sun shades cool rooms reducing the need for air conditioning.
-A 5,000 square foot green roof insulates and mitigates heat gain, captures rainwater, and doubles as a main circulation pathway.
-Rooftop solar photovoltaic cells generate over 10% of the buildings annual building demand.
-Reduced automobile trips to/from campus and extended facilities to support a Green Bike Program.
-Materials high in recycled content and low VOC were used. Wood used on balcony niches, handrails, and fencing comes from suppliers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. Permeable concrete and pavers set in sand absorb rainwater and reduce erosion and storm-water runoff.
-Cleaning products are biodegradable and non-toxic.
-Gray water filtration system treats 90,000 gallons of water/month and converts wastewater for re-use on site.
-Living wall captures rainwater runoff from green roof into storm water retention basins.
-Individually controlled fan-coil units are located in each room with window sensors that automatically shut off HVAC equipment when windows are opened.
-Landscaping with native plantings that require little water, fertilizer or pesticides. Drip irrigation has been instituted to reduce water needs.
-Extensive recycling program.
-Light colored walkways reflect light thru clerestory and double glazed windows to provide diffused natural light to spaces.
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