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Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

independent.com

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Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#381

Post by tomtheelder »

indodima wrote: post #113
yashap wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

100%. Sure, the billionaire is probably an asshole, but he’s also 97 and not an architect. The real problem here is the leadership at the university deciding to move forward with this monstrosity just to get a big donation.

You do not need to be an architect to see that living in windowless boxes (not rooms) will damage young adults psychologically. Just put yourself into this room and try to study for 6 hours a day. It looks worse than a prison cell. This old fart probably has his own ideas about how poor students need to work and live in order to "earn" an education. Not to mention anything regarding virus spreading...

I actually lived in a room remarkably similar to this one year in college. It was marginally bigger than what is pictured, but the space was used far less efficiently (lots of annoying free-standing furniture) so functionally it was probably smaller. Aside from the lack of a window making it awfully hard to wake up in the morning, it was no big deal. It was actually my favorite dorm room I had in college. The single-room-in-a-suite model is amazing.

The big thing was that I had a common room shared with my suite-mates which was large-ish, comfortable, and naturally lit. I spent my time at home there, but it's college so I spent most of my time out of the dorm anyway.

My big concern with this UCSB dorm would be for students who are significantly asocial. For the many who crave an isolated personal space, it could be majorly depressing. I get the idea that the entire goal of the design is to try to get people to not behave that way, but I doubt that will work.

I'd guess this dorm would be a great experience for a very significant majority of students, but basically a torture chamber for an unfortunate minority. Ergo it's probably an extremely bad idea.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#382

Post by em-bee »

raldi wrote: post #117
notRobot wrote: post #17

No windows? No natural light whatsoever? That's gotta have a serious negative impact on the mental health (and possibly sleep patterns?) of the students. Not to mention that in case of a fire, all the people rushing to the two exits will get into a stampede, and those who remain in their rooms will suffocate, with no windows to open for fresh air or to be rescued from? This is the most dystopian thing I've heard of i…

There are tons of windows and natural light in the common areas; the design is meant to encourage congregation there. The bedrooms are just for sleeping, dressing, and sex.

i don't like to sleep in a room without windows. i like to see the night sky or signs of life outside my room, and most importantly i hate waking up in the dark. i would switch universities or sue if forced to accept a windowless room.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#383

Post by shawndrost »

wpietri wrote: post #231
graeme wrote: post #3

Interesting collision of the idea with the covid era. During an outbreak you’d want students to have a private airspace to go to and the possibility of ventilation. Update: from another comment, Munger designed a similar building in Michigan. It has great reviews! But, one of the top ones was “great until pandemic”. Adding this to clarify that, contra other comments, I don’t necessarily think Munger was mistaken. But…

Wow, some of the quotes here: "Good luck surviving seasonal depression or maintaining your slowly failing eyesight, especially during a pandemic and you should not be spending long periods in common spaces, when 95% of the rooms in Munger have NO WINDOW" "It can be a huge problem for people to live in because normally people would feel very uncomfortable living in a room without windows, and you don't even have a saf…

You're really misrepresenting the information from the link. Munger is the top-rated residence in the area. https://www.veryapt.com/Apartments-L7646-ann-arbor-central-c...

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#384

Post by canaus »

loeg wrote: post #263
wongarsu wrote: post #150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least there everyone seems to get their own bathroom. The UCSB version seems to have one bathroom and one shower for every suite of 8

We had 2 toilets and 1 shower (in a single shared bathroom) per suite of 16 students at UW in McMahon: https://hfs.uw.edu/Live/Undergraduate-Housing-Rates-and-Info...

Not sure what the point was of you bringing this up.

Are you saying that you liked only having 2 toilets and 1 shower per 16 people? Are you saying that since your experience was that, others should have similar?

Just trying to understand the purpose of you bringing up your anecdotal experience.

edit: Also looking at the link it looks like two students get 1 private room with a window, and some even get balconies. There's outside courtyards as well. Not sure how this is similar to the design mentioned.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#385

Post by mindcrime »

op00to wrote: post #355
mindcrime wrote: post #332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would think that, you being a former firefighter, you’d know that exits (for regular use and, even more so, emergency exits) are not the same thing as (are generally a superset of) entrances. Yes, I've already addressed that point multiple times in this discussion. Emergency exits are a factor, but not a be-all / end-all. State building codes in California have for new construction for more than 30 years (heck, Cal…

Where are you? In the northeast, sprinklers have been required in institutional buildings for as long as California.

North Carolina for me.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#386

Post by cwkoss »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #276
joachim4 wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not having natural light is one of the best way to attack your mental health. This building is just a bad design, and human are not made to live without natural lights.

...and I am working in a warehouse-style building at a Silicon Valley startup. All the windows have been blacked out, to keep the IP safe. It's a little like being inside a Borg Cube.

Build a replica Borg recharging alcove around the coffee machine

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#387

Post by BoorishBears »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #276
joachim4 wrote: post #273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not having natural light is one of the best way to attack your mental health. This building is just a bad design, and human are not made to live without natural lights.

...and I am working in a warehouse-style building at a Silicon Valley startup. All the windows have been blacked out, to keep the IP safe. It's a little like being inside a Borg Cube.

They couldn't cover them in something translucent?

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#388

Post by em-bee »

mikeg8 wrote: post #357
mrweasel wrote: post #325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even in the US having living quarters with no windows must be illegal. It’s dumb enough that people are allowed to work in offices with no windows, but this has to be illegal.

But it is not. Not all rooms can be places along the exterior walls of the building.

in many places in the world houses are designed to allow windows in every room. it's not that hard.

Re: Architect Resigns in Protest over UCSB Mega-Dorm

#390

Post by keyanp »

While it appears at first glance to be terrible, it is a tradeoff that is possibly worth making.

My first year of undergrad was spent living in a "forced triple" (3 people in a dorm room meant for 2). I would have much preferred a single room even if it meant no windows. Certainly would have led to more productivity and sanity.

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