[ookware]

This is ridiculous. In the UK it is accepted that all students get their own room, although they usually share facilities like bathrooms and kitchens etc. And they all have windows.

It is very different having a two week cruise, or working 9-5 in an office, but to have a windowless room as your only private space for 3 years+ is unhealthy and unfair on a segment of the community who get very little say in their living arrangements in any case.

This is a 98 year old man who thinks he is special because he is rich, and therefore everything he turns his hand to will be the best and damn those who disagree.

[potatoman22]

Consider that UCSB might not have enough space/money to provide each student with their own window.

[JumpCrisscross]

Also, it’ a Santa Barbara. You get enough sun in Santa Barbara, and don’t have sunless winters. If this were proposed in e.g. New York, I would object.

[jrochkind1]

So... they already did it in southeastern michigan, which I don't think is any warmer or brighter in the winter than new york.

https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2021/11/03/heres-what-its-like-...

[MereInterest]

Pray tell, how does this sunlight make it into the windowless rooms?

[aidenn0]

At UCSB many (most?) students live in private housing after 1 or two years.

[jrochkind1]

It seems possible university requirements for this will change, if part of the motive for this construction is [from OP] that "UCSB is experiencing a severe housing shortage and is being pressured by area residents to build new dormitories" -- seems like it doesn't meet that pressure unless they increase the number of students living on campus, right?

They're going to have to fill those 4500 beds (about 20% of the total undergraduate enrollment of UCSB) once they're built... seems safe to assume one way or another the portion of students living on-campus will increase significantly once this dorm is built.

[aidenn0]

It's also of note that private housing like this (or even more traditional dormitories) would be illegal in either Santa Barbara or Goleta; boarding houses are nearly impossible to get through zoning. Which would certainly make it more affordable for young, unmarried people to live in the area (who currently commute from Ventura, Solvang or Buelton).

[kevinmchugh]

Presumably this project is an attempt to address that