Wild Commons, the new residence hall composed of two towers connected by a dining hall, will be filled with new amenities and improved technology.
Wild Commons will provide living space for nearly 900 freshmen and sophomores. The freshman to sophomore ratio, however, will depend on the size of the incoming class. The floors of Wild Commons are co-ed by pods. This was to provide a flow of community, Xavier Cole, vice president of student affairs, said.
“Not every first-year student will be able to live in here nor will every sophomore, but a good proportion will,” Cole said.
Cole said incoming sophomores will be able to choose Wild Commons, but there will be a designated amount of available spots. Rooms will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis following housing deposit submission.
“We decide how students are changing and how students are using the building, so this building will be chalked full of new technology,” Cole said. “This building will have stronger WiFi connection. This building will have study spaces and more recreational space.”
Cole said the increase in community space was purposeful.
Wild Commons offers smart classrooms, a dining hall with eight food options including an allergen station, music rooms, seating areas with fireplaces and projectors as well as kitchenettes by laundry rooms.
The dining hall, outdoor courtyard, chapel, study spaces and lounge areas will be open to the public. However, access to both of the towers will require swipe access.
Learning communities will also be in Wild Commons, but it is not yet decided which ones.
Wild Commons also has the most expensive double and single rooms out of the residence halls. A double room in either of the Wild Commons towers is $13,650 for the 2018-’19 academic year, while a single room is $14,140.
“Every student needs to afford the community. Wild Commons will be one of the most expensive residence halls on campus because it is the newest and it has the most amenities,” Cole said.
Cole said students should not be excluded from Wild Commons because of its cost.
“If we do have a learning community, we need to make sure there are students who can afford it and also be able to subsidize students who cannot,” he said.
The first Wild Commons residents will move into the hall in August for the 2018-’19 school year.
