When an unassuming 1970s office building a half-mile from the Middlebury Institute for International Studies (MIIS) became available in the fall of 2019, MIIS and Kirchhoff Campus Properties immediately saw an opportunity to meet their student housing needs and better integrate the architectural character of this building into its Monterey, California context.
Union worked closely with college staff, a student advisory board, and the City of Monterey to address and balance their needs with the timeline, budget, and limitations of the existing building. The result is a mix of one-, two-, and three-bed student rooms that line the edges of the building. At the center of each floor is a series of communal cooking, teaching, and study spaces.
Following Middlebury’s and Kirchhoff’s commitments to sustainability, the existing envelope was upgraded above local energy codes, and a new high-efficiency all-electric HVAC system was installed. A solar array across a majority of the roof provides significant energy production. The project met a very fast-paced schedule to open for students in the fall of 2021.
