Residential Life Project

Phase 2 of the Residential Life Project began in January 2011. Four new buildings will house 308 students, the Intercollegiate Department of Media Studies, Study Abroad offices, seminar rooms, a digital photography lab, an art gallery, and the Pitzer Archives.

View photos of Phase 2 construction in progress.

Sustainable Buildings

In 2007, Pitzer College inaugurated three LEED Gold Certified residence halls. LEED (which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification is awarded by the US Green Building Council, and gold is the highest rating a building can receive.

Pitzer Hall houses the Admissions Office, student rooms and a green roof garden. Sanborn Hall is home to student rooms, study rooms, lounges and faculty and staff apartments. Atherton Hall houses faculty offices, art studios, a music practice room, study rooms and lounges and student rooms.

Over 40 sustainable features were incorporated into their design and building:

• • They were constructed of materials made of recycled content including structural steel, concrete, gypsum board, carpeting and insulation.
• • Over 20% of construction materials were manufactured within 200 miles of the project site.
• • A green-belt area of equal size to the footprint of the buildings is maintained around the site.
• • Solar panels on the buildings provide about 28,067 kilowatt hours of renewable energy annually.
• • A green roof system includes a high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants.
• • Surrounding landscaping utilizes drought-tolerant plants. Irrigation is minimized through a high-efficiency irrigation system and climate-based controllers.
• • The buildings are heated and cooled with high-efficiency chillers, boilers and pumps.
• • Their energy costs are lowered by up to 32% thanks to compact fluorescent lighting, daylighting, insulation, chilled water and operable windows.
• • The bathrooms feature low-flow shower heads, faucets and toilets.
• • Residential rooms and halls contain low-emitting adhesives, sealants, paints, carpets, etc

Phase 1 Project Plans