Shop Talk: Residences at U. of Denver, Kent State, and Columbia

The U. of Denver put up a new residence hall using materials familiar on campus: copper and brick. (U. of Denver photo)

More beds: The University of Denver opened Nagel Hall, a $40-million, 150,000-square-foot residence hall that added more than 350 beds to the university total. The building has been submitted for a gold certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, thanks to a number of green features, like efficient heating-and-cooling systems and recycled materials (including the recycled copper on the roof). The building continues a signature look — mixing brick, a copper roof, and copper scales on the facade — that has been the university’s hallmark for more than a decade, started under the chancellorship of Daniel Ritchie. During a visit a few years ago, I was told that these buildings are constructed “the old-fashioned way,” and that they’re meant to last — both structurally and aesthetically — well over 100 years. What do you think?

Fewer beds: The Record-Courier reports that Kent State University is demolishing some residence halls, despite a campus housing crunch. The buildings are structurally sound and generally in good shape, but their varied floor levels would make renovations for the disabled complicated. Students, meanwhile, will have to live four to a room in other residence halls.

High-style beds: The Wall Street Journal reports that Columbia University has purchased 127 high-end condominiums — some of which have been on the market for $1-million each — for student and faculty lodging. The purchase, for $69-million, was possible because of the declining real-estate market.