More than 270 additional Occidental College students are sleeping easy on campus this year, thanks to Rangeview Hall, a new student housing facility designed by MVE Institutional (MVEI).
More than 270 additional Occidental College students are sleeping easy on campus this year, thanks to Rangeview Hall, a new student housing facility designed by MVE Institutional (MVEI).
"At Rangeview Hall, we designed living quarters that honor the recognizable architectural traditions of the Occidental College campus, yet are modern and sustainable from a functional viewpoint," said Robert Simons, AIA, Principal-in-Charge, at the Irvine, CA-based MVEI. "In this setting, we strived to create a beautiful, efficient and contextual student facility that aims to increase student and faculty interaction through good design and the use of open space."
The four-story residence hall is Occidental's first new student housing project in more than 25 years and is now the largest hall on campus. The 274-bed Rangeview Hall pays homage to the architectural style of Occidental College, a campus in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, master planned in 1910 by renowned Southland architect Myron Hunt, who then designed nearly two dozen Occidental College buildings during the next 30 years. Hunt is famed in Southern California for Pasadena City Library, the Ambassador Hotel and the Huntington Hotel, among other regional icons.
The exterior aesthetics and detailing of the 195,944-square-foot Rangeview Hall are consistent with the existing Hunt-designed structures, blending in seamlessly with the Mediterranean/Spanish revival architectural style that is so emblematic of Southern California. The red clay-tile roof, the outdoor loggias, the recessed windows and soft off-white exterior all ensure that Rangeview Hall comfortably takes its place at Occidental College. Moreover, the interior design of Rangeview Hall adopts some of the most successful features of the historical residence halls by incorporating the old campus tradition of what students and faculty call "living rooms." These living rooms-replete with comfortable seating and table arrangements-merge the functions of lobby and reception areas at the main entrance of the building, and create distinct, informal meeting and gathering spaces for campus residents to interact, relax and engage in conversation. "At each college and university we work with, our goal is to understand the individual personality of the campus and of its students, then translate that spirit into an architecture that is easily recognizable and contextual," said Jeff Larsen, AIA, Design Principal.
The $38.8-million project includes a variety of modern amenities, including private bathrooms, refrigerators and microwaves in each room, large closets with mirrored doors, laundry rooms on each floor, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center. The hall also includes multiple student lounges distributed throughout the housing, a 257-space underground parking garage that serves both resident and general campus parking, and wireless internet connectivity. High-efficiency HVAC systems and special insulating glass are among many other energy-saving features, and easily help the project exceed California Title 24 energy efficiency standards.
Another creative design element of Rangeview Hall is the creation of five classrooms inside the building, which are intended to foster a "living-learning" environment. These classrooms are not only available for classes, but double as meeting places for study groups and summer conferences, as well as for academic and social clubs. Additionally, it is anticipated that visiting professors, temporary instructors or guest speakers that reside at Rangeview Hall will utilize these classrooms for classes and lectures.
MVEI carefully evaluated Rangeview Hall's relationship to the campus, and the use of space around the new facility. The new hall is arranged around a series of three open internal courtyards that offer additional gathering places for student socialization and divide the housing into three smaller-scaled "neighborhoods," which promote better social interaction with other students and facilitate a better mentoring ratio for Resident Advisors. The largest courtyard serves as an "outdoor banquet hall" for al fresco dining, appropriate for the foothill climate. This space also will be utilized for a variety of campus-wide events, such as alumni fundraisers and other student activities, all the while promoting on-campus interaction. The courtyard is also activated throughout the day by the surrounding classrooms, a recreation room, a fitness room and a coffee cart kiosk. The creative design solution and multiple uses of the largest courtyard space negated the need for a much more costly indoor banquet facility.
The completion of Rangeview Hall has increased the on-campus housing capacity of Occidental College significantly. With the success of Rangeview Hall, nearly nine out of every 10 Occidental College students can live onsite, reducing commuting needs and costs, but more important, giving students the invaluable experience of living among peers on campus.
In addition to Simons, MVEI Principal-in-Charge, and Larsen, Design Principal, for Rangeview Hall, the MVEI project team included Luis Arambula, AIA, Project Architect; Doug Brown, Project Manager; Austin Short, Designer; and LeRoyal Jones, Interior Designer.
The general contractor on Rangeview Hall was Benchmark Contractors, Inc.; the civil and structural engineer was KPFF Consulting Engineers; the MEP Engineer was Toft Wolff Farrow Inc.; the landscape architect was Site Design Studio; the shoring engineer was Burnett and Young; and the permit expediter was Planning Design Associates.
MVE Institutional, an affiliated company of MVE & Partner-one of the 10-largest architecture firms in California-provides civic planning and architecture solutions to improve communities and enhance the experience of all participants. The firm's specialized institutional focus builds on more than 30 years of MVE & Partners' joint experience working with private industry and public agencies, including education systems, local governments, religious organizations, transportation authorities and redevelopment agencies. MVE Institutional understands that civic and educational environments are the foundation of any community and form the backdrop against which residents live, learn, work, worship and play. MVE Institutional is dedicated to the creation of meaningful places that serve the needs of both the individual and the community.