'Next Gen Hall' Opens for UConn STEM Students

STORRS, CT —Calling it a "team effort in all of Connecticut," Gov. Dannel P. Malloy grabbed a giant pair of UConn logo scissors on Wednesday and, along with University of Connecticut President Susan Herbst, UConn student Britney Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open Next Generation Hall, a state-of-the-art $105 million dorm on the Storrs campus.

Next Gen Hall overlooks the field hockey and alumni complexes in the north campus area. It is the first building completed under the Next Generation Connecticut bonding initiative to expand UConn’s programs in STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and math. Construction began in the fall of 2014.

The eight-story, 210,000-square- foot building has 727 beds and hosts several specialized "Learning Communities."

It also includes comfortable study lounges, an Innovation Zone with a 3-D printer for students’ use, and many other features.

Freshmen and sophomores will be the primary residents. Some students were able to move in early under a variety of circumstances but most will move in by the end of the weekend.

The construction budget for Next Gen Hall was $79 million and the overall budget was $105 million after furnishings site work and utility costs were factored in, school officials said.

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel