Alma’s “green” residence facility, Wright Hall, opened in January 2005.
This modern, 60-bed apartment-style hall features a number of environmentally friendly features, including geothermal heating and cooling, recycled-content ceiling tiles and carpeting, energy-efficient windows, rooftop solar heating panels, energy-efficient showers and washing machines, and a computerized energy monitoring system.
The building was named for and built on the site of one of the College’s first residence halls, old Wright Hall. It features double and single rooms equipped with private baths, living rooms and kitchens. Designed to be more like apartments than dorm rooms, the building includes suites and apartments conducive to the “family” atmosphere Alma College projects.
The building also has rooms set aside for student collaboration and game rooms. A Commons Area provides a venue for social activities.
Wright hall was designed from major student input to be a model of environmental sustainability. Elements of the design came partly from teams of students competing for the 2003 Kapp Honors Day Prize that focused on sustainability in the new residence hall.
Alumni’s fond memories of the first Wright Hall provided the financial impetus for the name and construction.
