The proposed “Munger Hall” is stirring up a fuss at UC Santa Barbara, where longtime architect Dennis McFadden has decided to step away from the project.
The hall, which would house more than 4,500 students in an 11-story building, is the brainchild of billionaire Charlie Munger, the Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway. And it's mostly without windows for students.
Munger’s design calls for a 1.68 million-square-foot structure in which 94% of students' bedrooms would have no access to windows or fresh air, according to the Santa Barbara Independent. The design follows the billionaire’s $200 million donation to help fund the project - at a university in dire need of dorm rooms.
McFadden reportedly walked away from the project over his belief that the dorms would be “destructive to the campus” according to an October statement by McFadden to the university’s design review committee - of which he has been part of 15 years according to the Washington Post.
In his resignation letter McFadden went on to say that the plan was “unsupportable from my perspective as an architect, a parent and human being,” and that he was disturbed that the building featured just two entrances.
Munger seems unfazed by the architect’s decision to resign and, in an interview with the Post, said his plan will feature “virtual windows” to simulate bedroom sunlight. The 97-year-old has also previously said that the small design of the rooms “would coax residents out of their rooms and into larger common areas,” according to the Independent, where they could interact with others on campus.
University officials have previously disagreed with McFadden, and called the $1.5 billion project “absolutely stunning.”
“We are deeply grateful to Charlie Munger for his vision, his leadership, and his commitment to creating a living and learning environment that will further support the academic success and personal well-being of our students,” Chancellor Henry T. Yang said in a July statement.
The university said while it’s “grateful for McFadden’s service,” his comments on the proposal will not stop the project from moving forward.
Munger Hall, which was first announced in 2016, is set to open in 2025 near Harder Stadium off of Mesa Road.
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