“Imagine a place where living and learning blend seamlessly.” That is the Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community. Dedicated on September 21 2012 this community offers apartment-style living to 309 honors students. It is designed to be innovative and progressive.
The Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community is located on the eastern side of campus. It sits at the hub of activity. The TRAX light rail station is nearby. The Honors Center in Ft. Douglas is a short walk away. The University Health Sciences Center and USTAR building are also close.
Sylvia Torti Dean of the Honors College said these are not old fashion dorm rooms. The buildings were designed to create a seamless living and learning environment. Student apartments classrooms and faculty offices are all under one roof. There is even a market.
The Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community incorporates classroom and collaborative workspaces. These spaces host the honors learning model. The model is based on small intensive courses. Distinguished faculty lead these courses across disciplines. Non-academic experts from the local community are often involved. The Think Tank is one example. Twelve upperclassmen research and design solutions to real-world problems for an academic year.
Torti said that their students learn to become community problem solvers with real impact. By merging infrastructure and programming this building intensifies that kind of learning. The living quarters are 4- or 8-person apartments. These appeal to new students and upperclassmen.
Torti said that research shows that students who live on campus stay engaged. They do better academically and graduate earlier than those who live elsewhere. This building makes it easy for students to engage in their four-year program.
The Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community is architecturally striking. It is clad in stone from a local quarry. The design maximizes natural light. Windows open to take advantage of canyon breezes. Proximity to the TRAX line provides easy access to shopping and attractions.
Torti notes that the seven-minute ride downtown and secure bike storage with bike-in bike-out access make having a car on this campus obsolete. The apartment wing is private. However the building entry and amenities on the first floor are open to everyone on campus. The lobby is open and staffed by students 24 hours a day. It offers a market with groceries snacks prepared meals and a coffee shop. Lounge areas are available for studying and continuing classroom conversations.
Torti said that the lobby and lounge areas are meant to be attractive and welcoming to all students. At the new crossroads of campus it is already a lively and well-used place. Classrooms faculty and staff offices occupy one wing off the lobby. The Virginia and L.E. Simmons Big Ideas Innovation Center is a large open classroom planned for many uses. Windows have a special coating that turns them into writable white boards. Furniture can be arranged to suit the size and style of class. All classrooms have wireless computer access. They can be subdivided for small group study. Projection equipment is built in for meetings demonstrations or even showing movies outside of class.
The Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community meets LEED Gold certification. It incorporates many green and sustainable features. Occupancy sensors LED and CFL lighting in common areas and Energy Star rated appliances are included. Separate chutes are available for recycling trash.
Jessica Batty won a grant from the U’s Sustainable Campus Initiative Fund. The money was invested in a dashboard system. This system monitors and displays electrical use by floor throughout the building. One of the apartments was turned into a Green Demonstration Room. That apartment showcases the use of sustainable finishes.
Torti concludes that excellence was built into the structure because excellence is what they aim to produce at the U. Honors is a microcosm of education here and the building will just attract more of it. The Donna Garff Marriott Honors Residential Scholars Community stands as a testament to engaged learning. It is a place where students thrive academically and personally.