ACUHO-I’s 21st Century Project initially began in 2006 with a summit meeting of 100 college housing and student affairs professionals who met to envision the residence hall of the future. Two subsequent design showcase events were held in 2007 and 2008 to explore design concepts.

As author and communications director of ACUHO-I (Association of College and University Housing Officers International), James A. Baumann writes in the recent May-June issue of the Talking Stick “the 21st Century Project has come full circle, as Indiana University, Colorado College, and Baylor University recently opened their halls, inspired by a process that was years in the making.”  In his thoughtful and informative article, Baumann ends by saying, “In many ways, the future may be now, but the horizon constantly shifts. In that regard, the real lesson of the 21st Century Project as well as the work done at Indiana University (Mackey Mitchell’s project with MSKTD & Associates); Colorado College; and Baylor University – is that the forward-thinking campus will keep an eye on that horizon. And they will use their expertise to continually explore innovative solutions to whatever the future may hold.”

Mackey Mitchell architects Dan Schneider, Gene Mackey, Steve Emer, Jordan Gatewood, and John Burse have visited each of the three 21st Century Project universities see the results of this ambitious endeavor and to learn more about living/learning communities. As Mackey Mitchell president Steve Emer recently noted, “We have a tremendous responsibility when we work on any college or university project. With our expertise, we touch all the primary aspects of a student’s existence on campus and create places that not only allow students to succeed, but also allows them to forge life-long friendships through connections beyond the classroom.”