In August 2013, 450 students moved into Spruce Hall (formerly Rose Avenue Residence Hall), excited about the new $38 million building, but wholly unaware of the unique process undertaken to create their new home. Working with MSKTD Architects, Mackey Mitchell designed Spruce Hall which represents a new paradigm that changed the approach of residence hall design. The design and construction of this LEED Gold project was based on the four tenets of ACUHO-I's 21st Century Project: community, flexibility, technology and sustainability, reflecting ACUHO-I's commitment to develop campus housing that provides unique, functional, and technologically advanced living experiences.
Shape
The concept of building community was at the core of the design process and began with engaging the broader University population to establish the program. Students were involved in the design dialogue from the earliest stages, with the goal of designing housing in a way that enables students to develop relationships and see themselves as part of a campus community. Indiana University was one of only three host sites in the country selected to implement the 21st Century Project concepts to "re-imagine the residence hall of the future."
Inspire
This community-based, collaborative learning environment with the flexibility to adapt to future program changes helps students achieve a work/life/study balance. The project delivers the "village" concept through a coffee shop, classrooms, media library, computer lab, exercise room, conference room and game room to encourage social interaction and forming community. As the author of ACUHO-I's publication Talking Stick stated, "The real lesson of the 21st Century Project is that the forward-thinking campus will keep an eye on the horizon...and continually explore innovative solutions to whatever the future may hold."
Passion + Perspective
The schematic site plan is used to understand the relationship of the building plan with the surrounding buildings and exterior spaces.
3D model of the first floor to understand the spatial relationships of the student commons areas.
Building Elevation study during design development.
This construction photo shows the stone detailing at window. Often these construction situations are developed in a mock up panel prior to being installed on the project.
This 3D model shows the common areas for the pod arrangement.
The Rose Avenue Residence is designed to build community. It is a 'dorm of the future' based on the principles of community, sustainability, technology, and flexibility.
- Bob Richardson University Architect, IU-Bloomington
