Name: Yosemite Hall
Architects: HKS Architects
Construction: DPR Construction
Yosemite Hall, the newest addition to the University of California, Davis campus, opened its doors to 390 incoming first-year students this past September. The new residence hall – a replacement for and an upgrade from past halls – is part of the university’s long range development plan to increase its number of beds from 10,500 to 15,000 by the start of the 2023 academic year. While the university currently guarantees housing for all incoming first-year students, it hopes to include sophomores in that promise by 2022.
Along with Tahoe Hall, Yosemite Hall is one of two residence halls in the Cuarto Area, which is differentiated from other areas by its private courtyards. Yosemite Hall is no exception, with an interior courtyard and sheltered bike racks available to its occupants. Residents of the Cuarto Area also have access to the Cuarto Dining Commons and live in close proximity to both the campus and to community shopping.
The building itself is four stories; the top three are entirely residential, and the ground floor hosts a number of shared amenities including a kitchen, laundry facilities, a 24-hour computer center with free printing, a service desk, and a mailroom. During the planning process, student input helped determine what amenities to include as well as the room layout. Each floor has anywhere from two to four community living rooms for socializing. All two- or three-bedroom suites hold two or three students per bedroom and include a private bathroom each. Three-bedroom suites include an extra toilet and sink.
Yosemite Hall is expected to receive LEED Gold certification. Going along with the university’s effort towards sustainability, the building has solar thermal panels installed on the roof to help provide hot water to its residents. The hall is also expected to host a living-learning community, SOCIaL, focusing on student organization involvement and developing leadership skills. According to Michael Sheehan, the executive director of student housing, SOCIaL “is connected to the Center for Student Involvement and is for students who want to get a head start when it comes to making the most out of their involvements outside of the classroom.”
— Amanda Gaudette
CALL FOR SPOTLIGHTS
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