Talking Stick - January/February 2017 - 29

Connecticut - also opted for built-in
furniture that was sturdy enough to
last for many years. Though smaller
than the typical single bedroom
in a residence hall, the pod in fact
has more room because it allows
for more square footage for storage
space. Each pod opens up to large
community areas that the students
can customize to their own personal
needs, which allows them to truly feel
at home. Doug Laditka, the associate
vice president of facilities at the
College of Wooster, notes that Gault
Schoolhouse is the most sought after
residential option on campus.
At the College of Charleston, Little
Architects and Svigals + Partners
worked to repurpose an older
residence hall, the Rutledge Rivers
Residence Hall, into a model for tiny
living. After bringing the building up
to code with ADA-compliant features
and renovated plumbing and HVAC
systems, they were able to create
apartments that accommodate four
to six students, with 252 square feet
allotted to each student. Inside these
apartments, students have access
to their own private bathrooms,
a comfortable living room, and a
kitchenette. "I'm definitely getting
my exercise climbing up on the bed,
but it's not a problem," says Anyim
jokingly as she gives her feedback on
the lofted beds. The architects were
also able to add a large community
space, public bathroom, and an RA
program room - amenities that were
not available in the original building;
and they were so careful in designing
every square inch that they were able
to increase the bed count of the hall
from 103 to 109.
Even though tiny living allows
institutions to make the most
of limited building space and to
increase the bed count, they continue
to prioritize the student experience
by emphasizing the importance of
community spaces, where students

TINY LIVING SPACES
CAN OFFER A
SOLUTION TO THE HIGH
COST OF HOUSING ON
MANY CAMPUSES.
can socialize and forge relationships.
"Community space cannot, under
any reason, be sacrificed. Especially
not to increase beds or room
space," says Jay Brotman, managing
partner at Svigals. Thomas CarlsonReddig, global practice leader at
Little, agrees, saying that sacrificing
community space creates a cramped
and uncomfortable living experience
and can have a negative impact on
students, who need an environment
for social interactions as well as
learning. The key is to find an
appropriate balance between privacy
and community.

At Wooster, student residents feel
that this balance has been achieved in
the Gault Schoolhouse. Sarah Bender,
a resident, notes, "I really enjoy being
able to come home after class and to
hang out in the common space with
my suitemates, who happen to be
some of my best friends at Wooster.
We get to relax, talk about our days,
and watch movies, all without being
confined to a small space where we
would have to sit on each other's
beds." Melantha Ardrey, director of
residence life at Charleston, and Lillie
Chamblee, residence hall director
at Rutledge, explain how their hall
achieved a balance of privacy and
community. "The design of Rutledge
Rivers offers a solution to this
struggle by arranging on-campus
residents in close living proximity
and creating useful, comfortable,
and stylish areas for mingling.
Specifically, in Rutledge Residence
Hall, the spacious living room areas
in each suite and the multi-functional
common kitchen on the first floor give
residents the flexibility to socialize in
groups both large and small, right in

Students enjoying the
community space at
Wooster
PHOTO CREDIT: COLLEGE OF WOOSTER

JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2017

29
Talking Stick - January/February 2017

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