The construction of Trippe Hall, opening fall semester of 2018, is quickly reaching its final product and select Penn State Behrend students were given access to explore the unfinished building and learn about its newly developed features for student resident life.

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The $28.4 million residence hall will house 251 first-year and upper-year students, featuring double-occupancy rooms. Each floor will include a large community room and several study lounges. The first floor will contain 18-19 bedrooms, measuring about 200 square feet, or 20 by 11 inches. The 12-foot-high ceilings will visually capture the depth of each room. The bedrooms will also be surrounded by double-layered drywall with insulation in between to block any sound.

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The bathrooms on each floor will be divided into a wet core, or multiple private rooms which will include bathroom essentials and showering units. In addition, there will also be separate publicly-accessible bathrooms, which will contain sink units for students who need to quickly freshen up before heading out. Students will also have the option to store their bathroom necessities in a locker room, which will include 36 lockers.

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In addition, the first floor will contain a 24/7 commercial kitchen, featuring a high-bar, six stools, and a 70-80 inch flat screen TV mounted on the wall.

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A conference room will also be provided for Penn State Behrend organizations and clubs to hold meetings on the first floor. A significant difference between the current residence halls and Trippe, is the concept of having the hall open to the Behrend community. Card access is usually required at the front entrances, but the building will have the option to disable card access to outermost doors and move it to the doors of each individual wing.

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“This building is expected to last at least 75 years, so it’s an over-design building that is expected to withstand anything,” said Mike Lindner, Director of Housing and Food Services. With this in mind, the building structure will contain moisture barrier structure, with radiant metal foil front and foam insulation in the middle.

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One of the main points in Trippe Hall’s construction is its commitment to sustainability. The building is expected to be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified building. This certification is the most widely used green building rating system worldwide. Lindner hopes the building will be a Silver level building. The LEED levels are based on a point system, which include Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

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“For us to be Platinum in Erie, we would have to do a lot of things that would actually cost more money and cost more environmental resource than we’ve ever saved.” said Lindner. “We want to do the most sustainable thing, but sometimes the most sustainable thing is not the most sustainable product.” For example, a piece of furniture that earns more points towards the LEED certification may not last as long as a piece that is not seen as sustainable. The building will also be well insulated, which is a huge concern when trying to conserve energy.

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The building will also foster a unique community on the Behrend campus. Special living interest housing will be available for students to meet like-minded people. For example, students interested in living a sustainable lifestyle will have the opportunity to live with others with the same interest.

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The unique design of Trippe Hall will provide a new living experience to students on campus, as well as the reduced cost. According to Mike Lindner, the residence hall is expected to cost $400 less than the on-campus apartment suites, which will allow students to experience more for less.

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With the residence hall being constructed around the innovative ideas of students, Trippe Hall will continue to open its doors to student’s opinions to make their living experience at Behrend as enjoyable as possible.