flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Have colleges + universities gone too far with "Quality of Life" buildings?

Have colleges + universities gone too far with "Quality of Life" buildings?

We'd like your input - recent projects, photo/s, renderings, and expert insight - on an important article we're working on for our Jan 2013 issue


By By Robert Cassidy | November 13, 2012

We'd like your input - recent projects, photo/s, renderings, and expert insight - on an important article we're working on for our Jan 2013 issue:

HIGHER EDUCATION: Residence Halls, Student Unions, and ‘Quality of Life’ Factors in the Halls of Ivy

With total costs exceeding $50,000 at many colleges/universities, and with U.S. student debt nearing $1 trillion, will institutions be forced to cut back on "quality of campus life" buildings: residence halls that rival the Ritz, student unions and refectories that go well beyond the basics of bed and board, recreation centers that may seem over the top in their amenities? What about other "quality of campus life" buildings?

We're not talking about basic classroom, science & technology, or administrative buildings here. We're interested in those structures that are not, strictly speaking, essential to the curriculum or administration of the institution - those facilities that serve to enhance the "quality of campus life."

The essential question: Have colleges and universities gone too far with these structures? Or does competition for top students, institutional pride, or some other factor make it essential that institutions of higher learning keep raising the bar? And who's going to pay for these facilities?

Please send project information, PDFs, photo/s, renderings, and related information to our Contributing Editor, Susan Bady (susanbady@sbcglobal.net). 

Please also let Susan know the name and contact info (email, phone, office location) of your top expert on higher-ed facilities.

Deadline: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we'd like to get these materials by Friday, Nov 16, if possible.

Thanks for your help, and BD+C looks forward to working with you on this important article. +

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Jul 17, 2023

Outdated federal rainfall analysis impacting infrastructure projects, flood insurance

Severe rainstorms, sometimes described as “atmospheric rivers” or “torrential thunderstorms,” are making the concept of a “1-in-100-year flood event” obsolete, according to a report from First Street Foundation, an organization focused on weather risk research. 

Multifamily Housing | Jul 13, 2023

Walkable neighborhoods encourage stronger sense of community

Adults who live in walkable neighborhoods are more likely to interact with their neighbors and have a stronger sense of community than people who live in car-dependent communities, according to a report by the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego.

Sustainability | Jul 13, 2023

Deep green retrofits: Updating old buildings to new sustainability standards

HOK’s David Weatherhead and Atenor’s Eoin Conroy discuss the challenges and opportunities of refurbishing old buildings to meet modern-day sustainability standards.

Contractors | Jul 13, 2023

Construction input prices remain unchanged in June, inflation slowing

Construction input prices remained unchanged in June compared to the previous month, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Producer Price Index data released today. Nonresidential construction input prices were also unchanged for the month.

Government Buildings | Jul 13, 2023

The recently opened U.S. Embassy in Ankara reflects U.S. values while honoring Turkish architecture

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations (OBO) has recently opened the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. The design by Ennead Architects aims to balance transparency and openness with security, according to a press statement. The design also seeks both to honor Turkey’s architectural traditions and to meet OBO’s goals of sustainability, resiliency, and stewardship.

Affordable Housing | Jul 12, 2023

Navigating homelessness with modular building solutions

San Francisco-based architect Chuck Bloszies, FAIA, SE, LEED AP, discusses his firm's designs for Navigation Centers, temporary housing for the homeless in northern California.

Sponsored | Fire and Life Safety | Jul 12, 2023

Fire safety considerations for cantilevered buildings [AIA course]

Bold cantilevered designs are prevalent today, as developers and architects strive to maximize space, views, and natural light in buildings. Cantilevered structures, however, present a host of challenges for building teams, according to José R. Rivera, PE, Associate Principal and Director of Plumbing and Fire Protection with Lilker.

Building Owners | Jul 12, 2023

Building movement: When is it a problem?

As buildings age, their structural conditions can deteriorate, causing damage and safety concerns. In order to mitigate this, it’s important to engage in the regular inspection and condition assessment of buildings for diagnosis.

Mass Timber | Jul 11, 2023

5 solutions to acoustic issues in mass timber buildings

For all its advantages, mass timber also has a less-heralded quality: its acoustic challenges. Exposed wood ceilings and floors have led to issues with excessive noise. Mass timber experts offer practical solutions to the top five acoustic issues in mass timber buildings.

Multifamily Housing | Jul 11, 2023

Converting downtown office into multifamily residential: Let’s stop and think about this

Is the office-to-residential conversion really what’s best for our downtowns from a cultural, urban, economic perspective? Or is this silver bullet really a poison pill?

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021