Minnesota State University
Mankato, Minnesota

Ayers/Saint/Gross worked with the Minnesota State University, Mankato and the MNSCU stakeholders to scope and site a new residence hall. Reviewing the current campus master plan a better site than the one the University imagined was found. The site is across the road from and an existing quadrangle on a flat expanse of lawn. By locating the new building here, it forms the end of the quad, further defines the student life quadrangle, and locates students closer to other residence halls.

The face of the residence hall is on the quad but is separated from it by a street. The street will be removed in the future to connect the residence hall with the pedestrian zone of the quad and to the student life facilities. The building is fronted by a formal terrace and line of canopy trees. The building has a series of wings which open to the natural landscape to the rear of the building. These wings help to define outdoor gathering areas which absorb the atmosphere of the heavily wooded bluff beyond.

The landscape palette is simple to match the aesthetic of the surrounding site. The walks are concrete or peastone with paver accents, the plant material is lawn with native flowering and hardwood trees and shrubs, the site furnishings are classic teak and metal.

Completion: 2007
Size: 4 Acres
Cost: $400,000