February  05, 2007

Building community with bricks and mortar

Swanson Commons highlights emphasis on community

Augustana's newest residential life building, Duane R. Swanson Commons, is emblematic of the college's welcoming spirit. At Swanson Commons, this extends even to the magnetic fasteners that hold open the doors to residents' rooms.

Much like Augustana's other residence halls, Swanson Commons includes numerous features designed to bring residents together. While the fire code forbids residents from using door stops to prop open their doors, the building accommodates the drop-in mentality of the college residence hall through magnetic door stays which automatically release when a fire alarm is signaled. Outside of their rooms, residents gather in common areas such as lounges and meetings rooms, and also in the building's on-site convenience store.

"We wanted to build community into this project at every turn," said Paul Pearson, vice president for finance, who worked with Carmen Hoppenjan, director of residential life, and Sharon Cramer, director of facilities services, to oversee the building's design and construction. "The extra work is worth it because we see how a facility like this makes Augustana a better place for our students," added Pearson.

The building, which opened in August 2006, is comprised of three wings containing two distinct styles of housing for 239 students. The building's three-story east wing accommodates sophomore and first-year students in two-room suites separated by an individual restroom. The three-story south and four-story west wings are made up of apartment-style units for juniors known on campus as Transitional Living Areas, or TLA Housing.

The building is named for Duane R. Swanson, a 1961 Augustana alumnus and a member of the college's Board of Trustees, whose recent gifts to Augustana have helped launch the implementation of "Authentically Augustana: A Strategic Plan for a Premier Liberal Arts College."

Kirby Winn
Director of Public Relations
Office: (309) 794-7473 Mobile: (309) 912-1532 Fax: (309) 794-3461
publicrelations@augustana.edu