Worcester, MA — A 422-bed, environmentally-progressive “home away from home” awaits this year’s incoming freshman at Worcester State College. Architects Prellwitz Chilinski Associates (PCA Inc.), in partnership with the school and the Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA), have transformed the 20-year-old Dowden Residence Hall into a 100,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art campus hub featuring a 4-story glass entry façade, sunny new common spaces and a wide range of student amenities. Pending certification at the LEED Gold level by the U.S. Green Building Council, the project addresses rising demand for on-campus student housing while advancing Worcester State’s identity as a welcoming, environmentally-conscious campus community. A rededication ceremony and tour featuring Richard M. Freeland, Commissioner of the State Department of Higher Education, and State Senators Harriette L. Chandler and Michael O. Moore is planned on September 7th.
The Dowden Hall renovation realizes a shared MSCBA/Worcester State goal: simultaneously improving the campus student experience, expanding residential capacity, and promoting sustainability. “MSCBA has been championing sustainable design and improved facilities for years now,” explains Steve Allen, AIA, LEED AP, a Principal at PCA. “Dowden Hall offered a perfect opportunity to advance their vision. The building was outdated, but it offered the potential to transform the freshman experience and symbolize Worcester State’s commitment to its students and the environment.”
The latest of several partnerships between the MSCBA and PCA, the project’s design re-oriented the existing 58,000-square-foot building around a 41,000-square-foot new wing connected by a 4-story glass entry/façade: a campus “front door” that floods the building halls and common spaces with natural light. A new courtyard replaces the building’s previous entry, adding an amenity to the core campus and helping position the building as a welcoming gathering place. Inside, 422 total beds, wide hallways, and new social spaces including a ground-floor fitness center, convenience store and game room create a supportive, modern college living experience for the College’s newly expanded freshman population.
In compliance with the Advanced Buildings Guide, sustainable design strategies are at work throughout the project. A natural-gas combined heat and power generation system is capable of providing electricity and hot water to both Dowden Hall and the adjacent Chandler Village apartment complex. Energy-conserving lighting, windows and plumbing ensure operational efficiency. Resource-saving building practices, such as the recycling of building materials and sourcing of locally produced materials, were applied throughout an 18-month construction process led by Consigli Construction Co. of Milford, MA. Cumulatively, these initiatives are on track to receive the U.S. Green Building Council’s second-highest distinction: LEED Gold Certification.
“We strive for sustainable design because we feel it’s the responsible thing to do as an organization,” notes MSCBA Executive Director Edward Adelman, AIA. “MSCBA projects, including all operating costs, are funded directly from student rent and fees. Therefore, investment in energy-conserving building materials and energy-producing equipment helps to reduce rent increases to pay for higher utility costs in the future.”
Students have already begun moving into the building, but the September 7th event will officially unveil the project to the Worcester State community. It’s a date Sibyl Brownlee, Vice President of Student Affairs looks forward to. “Dowden has undergone a complete transformation,” she notes. “There are touches and amenities our students have never had before, and all are beautifully executed. The student experience is paramount to us, and now our freshman will have added convenience, study, and social places everywhere. It’s an exceptional project.”