Reed College New Residence Hall

Reed College, a small liberal arts school in Portland, Ore., was seeking a solution to increased demand for on-campus student housing, which was driven, in part, by rising rental costs in the Portland area. The college lacked sufficient on-campus housing to support all students who desired to live in the residence halls. Reed’s newest and largest residence hall, Trillium, aims to help solve the housing crunch, and bring 180 first-year students together in a vibrant, socially active environment.

To mitigate the scale of the 66,285 SF, 180-bed residence hall, the largest on campus, the form is articulated into three student wings connected by a central lounge. The pinwheel layout not only breaks down the massing but frames three outdoor spaces of diverse scales and purposes. The layout creates a natural geographic center which serves as the social heart of the building, supporting visual connectivity and providing a variety of interconnected environments, including the main living space. Each wing contains three floors of student rooms, creating nine smaller communities of 20 students with opportunities for interaction and socialization at a range of scales.

Constructed from Roman brick, copper panels, glass and wood, the palette contributes to a Pacific Northwest look that connects to the forested landscape surrounding Trillium. The copper accents around the windows give a nod to the adjacent Grove residence hall.

Trillium’s interior echoes design principles of the modern workplace and high performing office; study nooks in various sizes, opportunities for fresh air and outdoor collaboration, and a mix of informal and formal meeting places give residents flexibility and choice in how and where they study. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow daylight in to reduce stress and create an uplifting interior environment. A terrace running the length of the top floor offers a dramatic, sweeping view of Portland’s West Hills. The ground floor of the residence hall features a state-of-the-art multipurpose classroom, which opens directly to a new campus quad area established by the new building.

Certified LEED Homes Platinum®, the project team pursued several progressive sustainability strategies from the outset, with 89% of construction waste was diverted from landfill and recycled. The team specified healthy, reclaimed and locally manufactured products wherever possible, including FSC-certified wood. The rooftop features both a photovoltaic array and a heat recovery system in place of traditional AC, which produces a similar level of occupant satisfaction without the cost and carbon increases.

Operable, high thermal performance windows a optimize daylight and provide access to views, while walls maximize thermal performance through compartmentalization and continuity. Resident rooms are supplied with ventilation air via heat recovery units that allow for heat to be recovered from restroom exhaust. Additionally, onsite stormwater capture minimized the development impact and reduces irrigation demand. Water efficient plumbing fixtures save 80% of the total building and site water.