Treanor Architects, P.A.

While 80% of American college students make it through freshman year, only 55% on average complete a degree after six years. As college students spend nearly three-quarters of their day in their living environments, designing an environment that sets students up for success now extends far beyond the classroom – to the residence.

“Every piece of national data there is shows that the residential environment is a critical factor in academic success and achievement,” says Julie Weber, Director of Housing and Residential Life at New Mexico State University. Students who live on campus are more likely to graduate within four years ...

Foster Academic Success “Students study in different ways,” notes Treanor Architects’ Nadia Zhiri. “An ideal floor plan balances opportunities for individual and group study.”

By Julie Williams Lawless

Learning, particularly for college students, is not limited to the knowledge acquired from a book or class. It is a social action where acquiring social skills is as important as acquiring study skills. Providing an environment to facilitate active learning and development of social skills creates a depth of understanding that passive observation cannot replicate (Stimpson 1994).

An estimated 80% of college students persist through the first year of study, yet only 55% on average will ultimately complete a degree after six years (Brandon, Hirt and Cameron 2008). The persistence needed to complete a degree may ...

Design survey says community-building features top on-campus housing priorities

In a survey of 70 on-campus housing specialists, Treanor Architects reports that student housing preferences are leaning toward buildings that encourage a sense of community among residents but that also focus on more privacy in personal living spaces.

The firm surveyed residence life representatives from a majority of public institutions, with about 30 percent of respondents answering on behalf of private colleges.

Eighty-four percent say building community among campus residents is the most relevant building design trend. Those surveyed say another critical concern impacting the design and construction of student residences ...

Click the link for results of Treanor Architects’ Survey on Student Life Facility Trends.

Memorial Union Renovation Taking Shape. Check it out!

Emporia State Union Renovation Video

Treanor's Nadia Zhiri and Joseph Stramberg along with Susan Grant from North Carolina State will present this informative session at this year's ACUHO-I Conference in New Orleans. Send your new and mid-level professionals to interest session 5 on July 11 at 2:30pm.

Learning Objectives:
1. …learn the basics of residence hall/ building design, construction, building systems & delivery.
2. …understand building maintenance, operations and material choices.
3. …identify ways the residential environment can contribute to student success.

You may have mad conflict resolution skills…but do you know where your fuse box is? What room types best support ...

What to Watch in 2011-2012

Treanor Architects is conducting this brief survey to investigate the trends today’s campuses are responding to in the programming, design and construction of their student life facilities. This should take less than 5 minutes and we would greatly appreciate your valuable insight and perspective.

Please complete this survey before July 15, 2011. You will receive a copy of the survey results once they are tabulated.

Providing four walls and a bed is no longer sufficient, but pie-in-the-sky aside, what is the reality on your campus?

Click the link below to take the survey.

Treanor Architects' Joseph Stramberg interviewed by Building Design & Construction

Major Trends In University Residence Halls
Peter Fabris

They’re not ‘dorms’ anymore. Today’s collegiate housing facilities are lively, state-of-the-art, and green—and a growing sector for Building Teams to explore.

There are logical reasons why university residence halls are one of the stronger sectors for AEC firms in the current construction market. Age is one of them. Many colleges and universities have a portfolio of ageing residence halls constructed in the 1960s and 1970s for the post-war generation. The baby boomers’ children, the so-called “echo boomers,” and even their ...

Williamsburg Yorktown Daily
By Amber Lester Kennedy Friday, April 15, 2011

The College of William and Mary will add 187 beds on campus in its new fraternity housing, to be located along Ukrop Way.

The site plan for the fraternity row was presented to the Board of Visitors during their quarterly meeting on Thursday. The project will include 12 buildings, six set north of Yates Drive and six south, totaling approximately 81,600 square feet. Its $26 million cost will be funded principally through room fees and it’s expected to open in the fall of 2013.

The fraternity row ...

Rendering of New Greek Village at William & Mary

When planning a new student life space, whether residence hall, dining hall or living learning space, starting with a few rules of thumb can put you on the road to success.

Establish a clear process. Outline your process ahead of time and be sure that you include adequate time and means to involve all stakeholders, including your students. “In some cases, the space requirements, programming or intention of the project has changed because of student influence and input,” says Nadia Zhiri, principal at Treanor Architects. “Sometimes students can surprise you.”

Conduct a cultural assessment. What are the goals and objectives ...