Talking Stick - May/June 2008 - 74

There Goes the Neighborhood Mackey Mitchell Architects + University of Southern Illinois- Edwardsville Ramping Up Collegiate Housing In designing its residence halls, Mackey Mitchell Architects and the University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville focused primarily on the notion that shared experiences provide opportunities for growth. The idea of an inclusive village, coupled with the current new urbanism movement, was the genesis of their ideal community. The proposed village is created with ﬂexible pods of communities. These pods are grouped with outdoor space and services that serve the larger community. Within the block, units interact with each other, creating the large common spaces between them, and corridor circulation interacts with living spaces, creating casual meeting places. The design nests three pods (36 beds). Movable walls set the desirable privacy levels in the pod and from the “street” (a pedestrian ramp that links rooms with the public space). Benches and recessed open space create a front porch at the entrance to the pod. This area acts as a transition space between the ramp and the privacy of the block. Just as homeowners paint their front doors and personalize their porches, this area can be used by students to post public announcements, personal artwork, and posters. This creative expression not only helps deﬁne a student’s home but also acts as a way-ﬁnding device in the neighborhood. The connection between “the block” and “the outside” occurs at balconies, through full-height glazing and via connections with green roofs. Within their design, the neighborhood is created by linking multiple blocks along a continuous ramp. Attached to the ramp are spaces that allow for a range of interactions. Study rooms located along the ramp are fully glazed and are equipped with an electronic device that turns the glass opaque when more privacy is needed. All communication is designed to reinforce the concept of community. Flexibility is the key to this system, as it allows students to design their desired level of interaction/privacy. The ﬁrst ﬂoor shows the open, public spaces and faculty apartments with private gardens/back yards. The agora (atrium) is a public space that frames the connection between the building and the street. Retail stores and student-run cooperatives are located on the public side of the street. A sense of belonging and interaction goes far beyond the community’s entrance. The design of a “continual walkway” that connects all blocks (clusters of student bedrooms) in the agora’s center fosters a vibrant community that focuses on individual and group interactions. These out-of-classroom learning experiences Mackey Mitchell Associates is located in St. Louis, Missouri (mackeymitchell.com). The ﬁrm partnered with the University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville (siue.edu). The team won the People’s Choice Award at this year’s event. 74 Talking Stick
http://mackeymitchell.com http://siue.edu
Talking Stick - May/June 2008

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