UC Santa Barbara planned a dorm for 4,500 students with few windows and only 2 exits

[genxlib]

12. I am going to be a dissenting voice here.

Having worked with a whole bunch of Architects, I will say politely that they are prone to drama. This guy grabbed his ball and went home but I know plenty of people like him.

I will say that as an Engineer and former college student, I would really like this building. Furthermore, as the father of a college student, I would like this building for my daughter better than anything she has access to now.

I suggest you actually look at the proposal on this document starting page 50ish https://www.dfss.ucsb.edu/sites/default/files/docs/dcs/DRC%20Meeting%20Packet%2010.05.21.pdf

First off, the building has two primary entrances but it has lots of exits. There are codes for such things and it will be fine.

I understand the lack of windows but I think that belies the way it should be used. They have single bunk rooms that should be for little more than sleeping and the most private of studying. Then I think of it as concentric circles of space and social activity; clusters of 8 around a living space and clusters of 64 sharing your own kitchen, game room and lounge. Then an expanded community to the whole building with a ton of different amenities and shared spaces of all kinds. I actually love this model as an ideal balance between privacy when you need it and community when you don't. My only complaint is that more of the common spaces need lounging furniture rather than dining type tables and chairs but that is a minor thing.

I know it is criticized as being a social experiment. Well I've got news for you; all college living is a social experiment. When my only child lived with seven people in a suite last year it was a social experiment. Being stuck in a double room where you never have the option of being alone is a social experiment. There are no ideal solutions but I like the ones that give kids the options for privacy while pushing for some degree of social interaction

Sure it would it be better if it spread out enough to allow each cluster to have windows. But clearly they are hurting for space and need the rooms. I can tell you that I would rather live in this on campus than be forced to be a commuter because there weren't enough beds available. We are dealing with that now because my daughter is being kicked off campus because they don't have any room for Juniors and Seniors. I would choose this for her in a heartbeat.