Arcadia Student Living

The architect faced the challenge of a bowl-shaped site with an 80-foot drop and divided by two swales in an “A” shape. The clubhouse and pool were placed in the bottom of the bowl over a stream, and the various building types were designed to accommodate the topographic conditions and take advantage of the views. The dramatic sloping roofs advertise the community from the highway and are distinct from the flat quads and roofs of housing on campus. In the Cottages, communal loft space is upstairs with large windows, while bedroom suites are private with separated entries. Living in roofs is a comforting reminder of home and a justification to drive a little further than to other off-campus housing.