[louwrentius]

I know that a lot of people here on HN are enamored with CM but I feel differently.

In October 2021, Munger's insistence that the university follow his design compelled architect Dennis McFadden, who had served the university for two decades, to resign from the university's Design Review Committee. McFadden stated that the windowless, 1.68-million-square-foot dormitory would be "unsupportable from my perspective as an architect, a parent, and a human being ... An ample body of documented evidence shows that interior environments with access to natural light, air, and views to nature improve both the physical and mental wellbeing of occupants ... The Munger Hall design ignores this evidence and seems to take the position that it doesn't matter ... [T]he building is a social and psychological experiment with an unknown impact on the lives and personal development of the undergraduates the university serves."[48] In August 2023, after widespread backlash to what critics called the "windowless dorm," UC Santa Barbara abandoned the project and began to solicit alternative housing proposals. Munger also withdrew his pledge of support.

[blovescoffee]

Every thread about munger points this out. Personally I feel it’s missing the forest for the trees. I’m not going to defend the dorm, but munger was one of the titans of business and investing. There’s so much more founders can take away from him than this story about the dorm.

[Tarsul]

yeah but it reads a little like he puts himself above others (e.g. the students here). He also did not sign the giving pledge, although he justified this by saying he already gave too much to his children for it to work - I cannot argue with these semantics but it's not a good look, nonetheless.

As a matter of fact we should stop revering multi billionares. There definitely should be a comeback of the term stinkin rich.

[WrongAssumption]

And yet the very same design was funded by Munger and built in Ann Arbor.

If what you say is true, how do you explain the incredibly high scores given by the students that live there?

https://www.veryapt.com/ApartmentReview-a7222-munger-graduat...

Are you willing to entertain the possibility that it is you that puts your rage over a design you never experienced over the real life experiences of the students that clearly enjoy the space?

[anoncow]

Thank you for sharing this. Makes me think that we should always assume positively. Perhaps Munger had a reason for supporting a closed-off dorm, based on what information he had on them. A reason strong enough for him.to be convinced that an alternative was not worth supporting.

[blooalien]

> "As a matter of fact we should stop revering multi billionares. There definitely should be a comeback of the term stinkin rich."

I've always called 'em the "filthy rich" because you know that almost all of them what got that (financially) "rich", they all had'ta get way more'n just their hands "dirty".

[tcbawo]

I’ve heard this anecdote multiple times. But, what was the rationale for making it windowless? Was he trying to discourage students from spending any time in their rooms?

[n2d4]

Much cheaper if you can build rooms not just along the outer edge but also the inside of the building. The students at the University of Michigan are giving it good reviews https://www.veryapt.com/ApartmentReview-a7222-munger-graduat...

[spking]

Yes, his design was meant to encourage dorm rooms to be used only for sleeping and quiet focused study.

[HEmanZ]

Ok, let’s make sure to judge your life by the decisions you make in your late 90s too. I’m sure they’ll be much more sound.

[seper8]

BUT BUT BUT... Reads notes... "Think about the dorm!!!"