WPI to construct new green student residence hall
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced plans for construction of a new $38 million apartment-style student residence hall at 10 Faraday Street, Massachusetts, US.
The hall, with a bed capacity of 258 for upperclass undergraduate and graduate students, will span 89,000 square feet. It has been designed by Boston-based ADD Incorporation and will be developed by Holyoke, Massachusetts-based Daniel O'Connell's Sons.
The facility will be air-conditioned and will incorporate four-person apartments. The apartments will comprise full kitchens, living rooms, as well as compartmentalized bathrooms. The hall will also consist of recreation facilities, technology suites, and will offer full wireless access. Further, there will be creation of a plaza and some sitting walls, along with adjacent parking.
The facility will adhere to LEED specifications by incorporating various green facilities. It will employ different measures to reap maximum energy and water savings such as installing multiple windows. The windows will maximise natural light penetration, hence reducing energy consumption for lighting during daytime.
The project is expected to break ground on June 2012 and be over by July 2013.
