Higher Education  -  COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Columbia Theological Seminary's Graduate Student Residence Hall is a three-story structure which will include studios, one, two and four-bedroom apartment units, a recreation and workout area accessible to the entire student body, a community kitchen with indoor and outdoor seating and fireplaces, a laundry area for residents, and mechanical and facilities support spaces. The building's layout organizes residential units on both sides of a central corridor on three residential floors. The character of the living spaces can be categorized as a "soft loft", with natural flooring, use of bold accent walls and high ceilings in the unit living areas. Common gathering spaces, including a panoramically-glazed community kitchen, are located on the ground floor, overlooking surrounding recreation fields. In keeping with the classic gothic style of other campus buildings, the new residence hall features an entry tower with large vertical glass openings punctuated by stepping masonry piers and cast stone detailing.

The project will be LEED Certified Silver and includes an exterior building envelope with above average insulation values, energy efficient windows, Ecostar recycled simulated slate shingles and a geothermal mechanical system provide low operating costs and a long lifecycle. The residence hall is expected to be one of the first buildings in Decatur, GA, to earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.