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New residence hall attracts upper-class students to campus living

By Betsey Norgard

Student move-in day this year brought additional hustle and bustle with the opening of Augsburg's newest residence hall, a three-story complex along 20th Avenue South, between 7th and 8th Streets.

The new hall, yet unnamed, houses 145 juniors and seniors in an apartment-style complex, bringing the College's residential population to nearly 900. The 53 units vary from efficiencies to two-bedroom suites, with full kitchens, large living/dining areas and spacious ceilings. All units are wired for Internet access; two units are fully accessible for wheelchairs. An underground level offers heated parking.

"The new residence hall was designed to respond to students' desire to live in suites, but have as much privacy as possible," said Ann Klamer, director of residence life. "This kind of living space encourages upper-class students to stay on campus where they can participate fully in college life and provide leadership."

This newest residence hall is part of Augsburg's vision for an "urban village" of living and learning, in which campus architecture is not isolating, but rather integrated into the neighborhood. The bay windows and modular exterior of the new hall relate it to surrounding townhouses and older homes in the Cedar-Riverside area.

"We are, at heart, a residential college in the heart of the city," said President William Frame. "Our newest residence hall will contribute to the development of our neighborhood as well as strengthen the bond between our educational enterprise and our campus culture."

The new hall filled before it was completed and is popular among its initial residents. In addition to students, several Augsburg faculty and staff also live there.

"We look at the new hall as an opportunity to link faculty with our students," said Thomas Howard, Jr., hall director. "This could be through faculty-conducted workshops, presentation of senior projects or just an informal conversation. We are confident that the new hall will help us bridge the gap from the formal classroom to the informal classroom."

Students can sign either 10-month or full-year leases, which means that they become true residents of the neighborhood and can live close to their part-time jobs.

The $6.4 million building was designed by Elness Swenson Graham Architects Inc. of Minneapolis, who specialize in student, multifamily and senior residential design. Kraus-Anderson Construction Company served as the general contractor and completed the construction in nine months.

The new residence hall was dedicated during Homecoming Weekend. Visitors had a chance then to tour the new building.

Augsburg's other residence halls are Urness Hall, a residence for first-year students built in 1967; Mortensen Hall, completed in 1973; and Anderson Hall, completed in 1993, featuring combinations of apartments and floor suites.

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