Munger Hall’s controversial design elements ― mainly its windowless bedrooms and hyper-dense floorplan ― have thus far dominated discussions and debate around the project. But a closer look at scoping documents related to the UCSB proposal provides a more complete picture of the building, which, at 1.68 million square feet, would qualify as the largest dormitory in the world. They also offer insight into the challenges the project will likely face when it goes before the UC Regents and California Coastal Commission for approval. We look at many of those details here.
Energy:
“Electricity to serve the Project would be provided by Southern California Edison and from existing photovoltaic arrays located on the Main Campus,” states Munger Hall’s Notice of Preparation, or NOP, which UCSB submitted to county planners this summer. “It is estimated that 6,000 MWh/year of electricity would be used by the project that is generated on the UCSB campus.” (As a point of comparison, the average American home uses 11.7 MWh/year.) Natural gas for the dorm, which would primarily be used for clothes dryers and some food preparation, would come from the Southern California Gas Company through an existing line along Mesa Road.