| This study seeks to determine students' sense of community outcomes based on experiences with different residence hall architectural designs. Sense of community is a "feeling that members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group, and a shared faith that members' needs will be met through their commitment to be together" (McMillan & Chavis, 1986, p. 9).;Building a sense of community remains the biggest trend influencing facility designs on college and university campuses (Treanor Architects, 2011). However, little is known about the sense of community outcomes of college students based on experiences with residence hall design.;Results from data and information analyses of this mixed-methodological study confirm that students do have different levels of sense of community outcomes based on their experiences with select types of residence hall designs. It is noted that suite-style accommodations offer greater sense of emotional support than do the other two hall design types. Furthermore, the interactive effect of gender and residence hall design is significant on sense of community outcomes. In general, men tend to find suite-style accommodations more conducive for developing sense of community, whereas women prefer campus house design. Lastly, qualitative analyses provide social construction, membership, purpose of belonging and influence, emotional support, and space utilization are important factors to consider in terms of sense of community development.;Keywords: sense of community, residence hall, design, architecture. |
