Providing Privacy While Promoting Social Interaction
The Living/Learning Center was intentionally designed not only to provide privacy, but to promote social interaction between roommates and others living in the individual buildings and throughout the USU community. Parsons’ design includes low-maintenance materials, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, low-water usage plumbing, and green space preservation. Working with USU, Parsons strategically placed all new structures away from existing mature trees and constructed model units in Building A so that USU could prelease some housing units.
The new residence halls are a modern version of the Old Main building's Romanesque architecture. The buildings are labeled A through F. Building D houses honors students on the second floor and the Living/Learning Center main office on the first floor. The other five buildings house students in three suites on each floor. Building F houses the university's Leadership House on the first and second floors. Each suite has a living room, two full bathrooms, two two-person vanities, three double rooms, and two single rooms.
Parsons has successfully completed a variety of educational facility projects ranging from K-12 to the university level. In 2001, Parsons—along with teaming members KCB Architecture, Van Boerum and Frank Associates, and Spectrum—completed design and construction of a 372-bed facility on the University of Utah campus. This facility housed students and lodged the 2002 Winter Olympics athletes. That year, Parsons also completed the Shoreline Ridge Apartments on the University of Utah campus. This project included 372 beds with a 2:1 bathroom ratio. In 2004, Parsons completed work for Southern Utah University’s Eccles Living and Learning Center. This Center included 300 beds, a housing office, reception desk, computer lab, resident director apartment, model apartment, conference rooms, a mail center, a TV and game room, and a laundry room.
The new USU Living/Learning Center will be close to the heart of the campus, and it is an excellent example of how campus living and learning enriches the educational experience. By living and learning in the same area, students will have the advantage of immediate access to faculty and staff, a supportive environment tailored to their needs, an understanding of what it means to be a USU student, and exposure to other forms of academic support that the Utah State Community has to offer without ever having to leave the comfort of their college home.
Parsons is proud to assist USU in delivering this critical project to its students. The skill, commitment, and dedication of the Parsons team, together with our familiarity, experience, and appreciation for the educational facility construction process enables us to exceed expectations for quality, value, and delivery.
