At first glance, the newly built Cypress Hall, which opened its doors to 330 incoming students on Move-In Day, looks like any other LSU dorm.
The red-tiled roofing and unmarked beige walls are similar to most campus structures. Yet the building hosts a new housing experience for freshmen in the College of Human Sciences and Education.
Located next to the Greek Amphitheatre on the north edge of the Enchanted Forest, Cypress Hall is the first residence hall on campus elligible to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, according to the LSU Department of Residential Life website.
“It has a lot of sustainable features that our other buildings don’t have,” said Residential Life associate director of communications and development Catherine David.
Amenities include low-flow shower heads and toilets, solar panels, water bottle filling stations, indoor bike racks and self-sustaining thermostats.
Painted with low-toxic paint and constructed partially from recyclable material, Cypress Hall also boasts trenches in the courtyard for rainwater collection and storm runoff. David said the rainwater collection will reduce erosion by allowing nearby plants to filter storm waste.
David said a LEED-certified building is not only good for the environment, but is also more cost efficient.
“It is a bit more expensive to build it up front because of the materials and the things that go into it, but in the long term, there will be cost savings with the energy efficiency,” David said.
The environmentally-friendly features also appeal to some incoming residents.
“I do like the thermostats,” said kinesiology freshman Cameron Badinger. “They don’t go past 70, so if somebody’s not in their room, they’re not using up too much energy for a cold room that nobody’s in.”
Residents said Cypress Hall fosters a welcoming atmosphere of community.
“I’ve never lived in a dorm before, but it just makes me feel like I’m at home,” said kinesiology freshman Deja Vercher.
Along with classrooms and faculty offices common in all residential colleges, there is a studio classroom for kinesiology courses. Cypress Hall also has outdoor classrooms, study spaces and courtyards.
Though residents already moved in, an official ribbon cutting for Cypress Hall is set for Sept. 17.
Renovations to Evangeline Hall and the construction of Spruce Hall were set to begin over the summer but postponed after bond sales to fund the construction were pulled, David said.
This next stage of construction is now scheduled to begin in summer 2016 as part of a plan to rebuild and renovate the residential halls.
“We’re in a constant cycle of construction and renovation to keep up with the demand,” David said.
Eco-friendly Cypress Hall welcomes students
By Tia Banerjee
August 23, 2015
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