Over the past decade, Ayers Saint Gross has designed more than 10,000 beds for universities and colleges across the country. Through this experience, we have learned that one size does not fit all. Each academic institution is unique and its student residence halls must be tailored to the particular culture of the campus.
Finding the right mix of units and shared spaces requires a comprehensive process of planning and design based on the ultimate goal of creating community in each hall. Students should be able to transition into campus life while achieving personal and academic goals, and building friendships with colleagues.
Our planning and design efforts do not stop with the completion of the building. Once a residence hall has opened, we analyze its spaces to understand how they are truly used by the campus community so that we can create better living environments in the future. Programmatic data on unit types and spaces outside the unit, and video-taped student interviews serve as a reality check. Such reflection on our projects helps to keep our student life designs fresh and relevant for future generations of students.
