UC Santa Barbara's proposed "dormzilla"

  • Thread starter Thread starter jtbell
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
UCSB is planning to construct a massive dormitory for 4,500 students, funded by billionaire Charlie Munger, who has mandated the use of his design, which features almost no windows. This has sparked significant controversy, leading to the resignation of an architect in protest. Critics argue that such a high-density living environment is unsuitable and could lead to safety issues, particularly in emergencies like fire alarms. Reports indicate that only 6% of the dorm's residents will have access to windows, raising concerns about the living conditions and overall desirability of the space. Many participants in the discussion express a preference for alternative housing options, citing the beauty of Santa Barbara and the impracticality of living in a windowless structure. The design has been compared to concepts for underground buildings and criticized as being callous and reminiscent of prison-like environments. Overall, the proposed dormitory has generated skepticism regarding its long-term viability and the quality of life it would provide for students.
jtbell
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Messages
16,023
Reaction score
7,548
  • Wow
Likes russ_watters
Physics news on Phys.org
4500 is a lot of people for a dorm!

no windows makes it even worse
 
Just some random thoughts.

We have experiences of this kind of population density (an we know where it tends to converge) so as a social experiment, it's just moot.

A fire alarm there would be a nightmare.

Since it's a dorm, the expected amortization is high.
Within ten years it'll look so that you would want to burn it down.
 
  • Like
Likes russ_watters
jtbell said:
almost no windows
I've seem images of windows on the peripheral rooms, so ostensibly, those willing to pay more will get windows. Personally, I'd find a different environment.
 
Astronuc said:
I've seem images of windows on the peripheral rooms, so ostensibly, those willing to pay more will get windows.
One of the linked articles says 94% of the residents will be windowless, so 6% = 270 will get windows. That would be equvalent to a large dorm at the small college where I went to school, and at the two where I've taught. Of course, Big State U's are a different world.
 
Ick. Why would anyone choose such a monstrosity? If built, my bet is that it will be torn down in ten years.
 
I think it's great for housing prospective submariners. Needs fewer windows and more bunks, though.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Likes nsaspook, rsk, Klystron and 7 others
Bandersnatch said:
I think it's great for housing prospective submariners. Needs fewer windows and more bunks, though.
I was thinking prospective cube-workers. Or generational starship passengers.
 
  • Like
Likes hutchphd
Given how pretty Santa Barbara is, a windowless dorm room would be a crime!
 
  • Like
Likes gmax137, jim mcnamara and Astronuc
  • #10
Maybe they're testing out designs for the next generation of prisons.
 
  • #11
Ygggdrasil said:
Given how pretty Santa Barbara is, a windowless dorm room would be a crime!
But the weather is sooo great in California, surely everyone wants to be outdoors anyway. Except to sleep... but I hear a lot of people do sleep outdoors... :wink:
 
  • #12
jtbell said:
but I hear a lot of people do sleep outdoors... :wink:

That's more an issue of housing prices than weather.
 
  • #14
Just preparing students for the available future housing in California.o_O

Definition of troglodyte​

1: a member of any of various peoples (as in antiquity) who lived or were reputed to live chiefly in caves

2: a person characterized by reclusive habits or outmoded or reactionary attitudes

(from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/troglodyte)
 
  • #15
No doubt a callous design. In some ways it reminds me of the idea for an "Earth'scraper" in Mexico City, where available plots of land are in short supply, which was floated a few years back.

1636127586262.png
 
  • Wow
Likes berkeman
  • #16
ergospherical said:
In some ways it reminds me of the idea for an "Earth'scraper" in Mexico City
Looks to me like an underground building (picture lacks legibility).

I see problems for this design:
Building underground is expensive.
I would bet there is a high water table in Mexico city (parts of it used to be a lake). Deeper parts would have to withstand a lot of water pressure.
Burials in some areas around New Orleans are above ground in cement coffins because a buried wood coffin can pop up out of saturated ground after being buried.
 
  • #18
I have not lived in Santa Barbara since 1968 but would prefer life in Isla Vista over a campus dormitory.
 

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top