grand mesa hall
2016
New Student Housing
The Grand Mesa Hall program called for 288 beds in double-occupancy, suite style units. A master plan for 900 beds was developed as part of the initial design charrette. Site design considerations included the creation of campus "edges" and visual and pedestrian linkages. The suite style apartment unit plan was chosen unanimously by students and accepted by the administration.
Given that there was no clear context for exterior design on campus, a variety of architectural styles were presented to the administration. A traditional, pitched roof residential style was chosen. The design challenge was expressed to the Design West+KCB and Kiewit team as follows: Design a facility, to which a prospect student may respond with "I will feel comfortable here" and to which a parent may respond with "my child will be safe here".