A mix of unit types with access to private or shared restrooms are available to students. The complex includes dedicated kitchens, lounges, and study areas for residents on almost every floor. A community kitchen and lounge, multi-purpose room, group study, reflection space, and high-end vending on the main floor is accessible to residents as well as other WWU students.
Located on a steep grade, the project facilitates ADA access to this area of campus with new ramps, landings, bridges, and sidewalks.
Each section of this three-building complex features a different framing system with a variety of mass timber applications to respond to differing uses in each. The central section provided the greatest challenge because the first floor amenity spaces have different structural support and MEP system needs than residential uses above.
Fewer columns on the first floor created open, flexible space; above, efficient programming requires more columns and walls to maximize the number and layouts of different room sizes. The team’s solution uses exposed glulam beams and columns, a CLT deck on the second level as a mass timber transfer floor, and rigorous connection detailing to accommodate these dissimilar uses and meet critical fire safety requirements.
Another section features large apartments on the ground floor with typical student housing units on floors above. The design of this section reconciles the different layouts, using light frame walls transferred into a combination of glulam beams and steel beams supported by steel columns.
All units in the third section are the same configuration; light frame bearing walls with Lock-Deck™ in the corridors were an efficient construction solution.
Careful planning with team members resolved significant overexcavation difficulties created by poor soils and boulders.
Sustainable design initiatives included the reuse of on-site materials, such as concrete aggregate from the demolished Highland Hall, to create new sidewalks. The project achieved LEED Gold certification.
Photography copyright Benjamin Benschneider, all rights reserved.
