Talking Stick - May/June 2014 - 41

Colorado College:
Slocum Hall
Population: 261
Cost: $14 million
Partners: CSNA Architects;
Gerald H. Phipps Construction; Jean
Sebben Associates; NES Inc.; HCDA
Engineering; Schendt Engineering
Corp.; Plant Engineering Consultants
Design Highlight: "Porch" lights
outside each room are illuminated
during quiet hours when the hall's
main lights dim.

Slocum Hall showed that creating the residence hall of the future doesn't mean starting from
scratch. The renovation project allowed the campus to maintain a piece of campus history
while still updating the style and features that will meet current and future needs.

vested commitment to transform and
modernize existing housing stock, and
a demonstrated commitment from the
campus and housing administration,
Indiana University, Baylor University,
and Colorado College were chosen
from all the applicants.
ll of this brings the
21st Century Project
to the present. The
three halls, now
in full operation
and having hosted
students since August 2013, share
some similarities yet also include
features to make them unique. Each
hall is integrated into the surrounding
landscape in different ways, as fitting
the different regions in which they
are located. They incorporate design
features that support the campus's

brand. They also demonstrate how the
process can be applied to a campus
regardless of its size, its public or
private affiliation, or its availability
of housing stock. For example, both
Indiana and Baylor constructed their
halls from scratch while Colorado
College applied the process to a
massive renovation project.
Colorado College was a logical
choice for participation. The Colorado
Springs campus is largely residential
with almost the entire student body
living in the halls. Sustainability
concepts are ingrained in the campus
culture, and it is the type of institution
that beams with pride when the
adjective "quirky" is applied to it. It
also happened to be on the cusp of
a major undertaking to update its
housing stock.
John Lauer, senior associate dean

"The 21st Century Project hall
supports our campus mission
by . . . transforming a residence
hall into a unique space that
fosters community with adaptable,
technology-supported spaces for
students to gather and collaborate,
building habits that continuously
challenge the intellect and
imagination, while also demonstrating
our continued commitment to
sustainability."

of students and director of residential
life and housing, credits much of the
hall's existence and success to support
from the campus administration. Even
though the university president has
since left the college after participating
in the original campus summit (along
with two campus vice presidents
and the dean of the college), his
replacement arrived fully invested in
the role of housing and tying it to the
college mission and strategic plan.
As far back as a decade ago, the
housing plan called for the demolition
of Slocum Hall, located on the east
side of campus and originally built
in 1953. However, the 21st Century
Project inspired the decision to
renovate the building instead and
"save it for a new generation to
experience" says Lauer. He also
says the renovation "touched every
May + june 2014

Talking Stick - May/June 2014

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