Niemeyer Learning and Living Center building features

ALLENDALE, Mich. — The Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center is unique in its design, size and purpose. As the home of Grand Valley’s Honor College, approximately 450 honors students live and learn in this state-of-the-art facility. Administrators call it the optimal environment for motivating students to grow and develop skills on their way to becoming leaders.
   
With 187,000 square feet of residential space and another 41,000 square feet of academic space, the learning and living center received high marks before construction was even completed. “We had consultants from around the country evaluate the facility,” said Jeff Chamberlain, director of the Honors College. “They said this is one of the finest facilities of its kind not only in Michigan, but in the United States.”

The learning and living center is large enough to accommodate first-year and upper-level students. “Students will now be able to make real connections,” said Chamberlain. “It can truly feel like a community. Students thrive in an atmosphere where they feel comfortable and valued.”

Students say living arrangements and campus housing are the biggest factors in selecting a university. They want quiet places to sleep and study, room and bathroom privacy, access to technology, housing near classes and a sense of community with other students. These trends and several others were considered when designing the new center. “We’ve hit a home run with this building,” said Andy Beachnau, director of Housing and Health Services. “Our goal was to reflect market and higher education trends. We took the best from each building on campus when designing housing for this building.” The facility offers only apartment-style living: two-bedroom, four-bedroom, and studio-style. Each student gets his or her own room, and each apartment has its own bathroom.

The new center has a 70-seat case room, multi-purpose room, science demonstration lab, listening room, library/reading room and two LearnLab classrooms, to name a few amenities. There are also 16 faculty, staff and clerical offices. Students will take about six hours of classes in the facility for the Honors College.

“We have state-of-the-art technology in our LearnLab classrooms, which create almost infinite possibilities for innovative teaching and learning,” said Chamberlain. “The professor can project his notes and documents on screens around the room and students can access it through their laptops. There is also a copy-cam that allows instructors to send their notes and writings to students. This way, learning is interactive. We want students to use and enhance the skills they already have.”
 
Glenn A. Niemeyer Learning and Living Center

Housing Accommodations
187,000 square feet residential space

• 449 beds
• 2 manager apartments
• 12 visiting faculty beds
• 17 small meeting rooms
• 5 great room/lounges
• Housing Department offices
• Laundry facilities on each floor
• ADA accessible

Honors College
41,000 square feet academic space

• 70 seat case room
• 1 multi-purpose room
• 2 LearnLab classrooms
• 1 48-seat case room
• 1 science classroom w/ prep room
• 1 computer-equipped classroom
• 16 faculty/staff/COT offices
• 1 conference room
• 1 work room
• 1 student library/reading room
• 1 student listening room
• 1 student commuter area
• 1 kitchen prep/serving room
• Student collaboration areas and gallery
• ADA accessible