West Hall Honors Housing

University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas

Project Details
76,000 total project square feet
295 square feet per bed

Awards
LEED New Construction GOLD
ASID Excellence in Interior Design Silver Award

Over the last few years, WER has noticed that national campus housing studies indicate significant improvements in student recruitment and retention can be achieved with proper, diverse housing models for on-campus living solutions. When designing West Hall Honors Housing for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the WER design team, in association with HEWV, stepped away from traditional housing models and presented a now-trending solution for this housing complex. The pod design at West Hall supports not only the on-campus community but also living/learning environments promoting student success and lasting friendships.

With a total of 362 beds in twelve pods, residents enjoy semi-private bathrooms, community kitchens and living areas cleaned by the university housing staff.

Farmhouse dining tables quickly turn from pizza party activities to group study. The pod design can be themed based on interest of study, community services or other choices to tailor to support student success. Centralized areas within the building support entire ‘house’ functions such as movie night and social mixers.

The design solution ideally serves the freshman and sophomore students on a traditional college campus, and fills a critical gap within the previous housing model at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ensuring the best student retention possible.