Campus News 2007-2008

Phase 1 of Residential Life Project Celebrated

With a backdrop of the San Gabriel mountains and beautiful Southern California weather, the completion of Phase 1 of the Residential Life Project was celebrated on Monday, September 24 in the interior courtyard of the three new residence halls. A large crowd of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members were joined by celebrity environmentalists Robert Redford and Ed Begley, Jr.

The three environmentally-friendly buildings were named in honor of Kenneth S. and Jean M. Pitzer, son and daughter-in-law of founder Russell K. Pitzer, the founder the College; John W. Atherton, the first president to Pitzer College; and Flora S. Sanborn, the wife of Russell K. Pitzer. The event honored the three lead donors of the residence halls: The Pitzer Family Foundation, Susan and Nicholas Pritzker and Peter and Gloria Gold and celebrated the College's commitment to green building and sustainability.

In addition to Redford and Begley, Jr., speakers at the event President Laura Trombley, Pitzer College Board of Trustees Chair Gene Stein, Professor of Environmental Studies Paul Faulstich and Student Senate president Ben Kramer. The event culminated with an amazing laser light show of texture and color focused on the new buildings planned and executed by trustee and alumnus Marc D. Broidy in collaboration with Vanessa Rundle '08.

The buildings are expected to earn Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the highest level ever awarded for residence halls. The planning process involved the entire Pitzer College community, especially the students. The College is gearing up for Phase II and III of the residence hall project.

For more information regarding the Residence Hall project and other green initiatives on the campus, please visit www.pitzer.edu/sustainability.

For a slideshow of the celebration, click here.