{"id":115834,"date":"2016-08-24T09:33:47","date_gmt":"2016-08-24T13:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=115834"},"modified":"2023-06-27T13:09:55","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T17:09:55","slug":"nextgen-hall-welcomes-first-students-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2016\/08\/nextgen-hall-welcomes-first-students-this-week\/","title":{"rendered":"NextGen Hall Welcomes First Students"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the Governor, University leaders, the General Assembly, and the state\u2019s business community all joined in support of the $1.5 billion Next Generation Connecticut<\/a> initiative, they were thinking about the future \u2013 and they were thinking big.<\/p>\n

That spirit is embodied in UConn\u2019s newest residence hall, which opened its doors to more than 700 undergraduates this fall.<\/p>\n

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A view of Next Generation Connecticut Hall, with the Sherman Family Sports Complex in the foreground, on Aug. 27, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenBuilding160817b045\"<\/a>
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An exterior view of NextGen Hall, showing sun shades on the side of the building. In the background is the Sherman Family Sports Complex (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"MoveIn160826a296\"<\/a>
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An exterior view of NextGen Hall, showing the cupola of the Wilbur Cross Building reflected in the windows. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenLounge160817b024\"<\/a>
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A lounge in NextGen Hall, with a view of the Sherman Family Sports Complex. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenHallway160817b103\"<\/a>
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A hallway in NextGen Hall. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenGameroom160817b064\"<\/a>
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The gameroom in NextGen Hall. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenRoom160817b143\"<\/a>
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The Idea Lab in NextGen Hall. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenMakerSpace160817b130\"<\/a>
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The Innovation Zone, a 'maker space' designed to encourage creativity and the development of practical skills, in NextGen Hall. (Sean Flynn\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"MoveIn160826a285\"<\/a>
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Donna Chow '17 (CLAS), left, and Erin Beckett '18 (CLAS) hand out learning community t-shirts to students as they move into Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 26, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"MoveIn160826a262\"<\/a>
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Students and their families carry belongings into Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 26, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"MoveIn160826a358\"<\/a>
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Erianna Bartucca '20 (CLAS), right, moves into her room at Next Generation Connecticut Hall with the help of her mother Kathy Bartucca of Bristol on Aug. 26, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"MoveIn160826a304\"<\/a>
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Brianne Mikullitz '20 (CLAS) sits on the bed in her room at Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 26, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGen160827c018\"<\/a>
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A view of Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 27, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGen160827c043\"<\/a>
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A view of Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 27, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGen160827c141\"<\/a>
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A view of Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 27, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

In late August, students began to move into the eight-story Next Generation Connecticut Hall<\/a> (NextGen Hall), the first new on-campus housing<\/a> in 13 years, and the first building completed under the initiative to expand UConn\u2019s programs in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math), increase enrollment, and help build Connecticut’s future workforce.<\/p>\n

One of the tallest buildings in Storrs, with a commanding view on all sides, the 210,000-square-foot residence hall will house mainly freshmen and sophomores. Just over 50 percent will be engineering majors, while the rest will be drawn from a variety of subject areas, including other STEM disciplines.<\/p>\n

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Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman cut a ceremonial ribbon to open the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a040\"<\/a>
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President Susan Herbst speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a034\"<\/a>
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President Susan Herbst speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a061\"<\/a>
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Gov. Dannel Malloy speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a108\"<\/a>
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Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a118\"<\/a>
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Brittany Reynolds '19 (BUS) speaks during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a127\"<\/a>
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Administrators, staff, and faculty applaud one of the speakers during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a050\"<\/a>
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Administrators, staff, and faculty listen to speakers during the dedication ceremony for the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a443\"<\/a>
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Gov. Dannel Malloy and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman greet Sophia Russell '19 (ENG) and her mother Julie Russell of Stamford while touring Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a461\"<\/a>
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Gov. Dannel Malloy, center, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, and Robert Corbett, director of regional projects & development, look out over the Sherman Family Sports Complex from an eighth-floor study lounge at the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"NextGenEvent160824a415\"<\/a>
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Gov. Dannel Malloy, right, and Robert Corbett, director of regional projects & development, look over the maker space at the Next Generation Connecticut Hall on Aug. 24, 2016. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

The University officially opened the residence hall Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as early-arriving students were moving in. Freshmen residents of the building moved in on Friday, Aug. 26, and upperclassmen and transfer students moved in over the weekend.<\/p>\n

All the students will belong to a faculty-led \u2018learning community,\u2019 a themed group designed to bridge students\u2019 academic, co-curricular, and residential experiences. Learning communities, says David Ouimette, who oversees the program, \u201ccreate a small-college feel in a large university.\u201d<\/p>\n