5 Interesting Things About Will Vill North

Don’t let Williams Village’s 1960s architecture fool you into thinking the complex is stuck in yesteryear.

Using 39 percent less energy than a same-sized building constructed without green standards, Williams Village North, the new kid on the block, welcomed students this fall with its occupancy sensor lighting, efficient appliances and native landscaping.

Located adjacent to Williams Village’s two high rises, the $46.5 million residence hall includes 500 beds, five classrooms and — get this — one faculty apartment, among other features. Architecture assistant professor Matthew Jelacic serves as faculty-in-residence for the building’s two innovative Residential Academic Programs.

The two Residential Academic Programs’ theme will be food. Local chefs, farmers and others involved in sustainable food production will visit and share their experiences.

“Sustainable food production is a very difficult problem to solve, but it is also something that students can relate to and learn about with a hands-on approach,” says professor Susan Clarke, faculty director of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Equitable Development and Sustainability, or SEEDs, Residential Academic Program.

Fast facts:

1. Number of residents: 500
2. Height: Six stories tall
3. Residential academic programs (RAPs): Sustainable by Design and Social Entrepreneurship for Equitable Development and Sustainability
4. Total number of RAPs on campus: 12
5. Perks of getting to main campus: Five minutes on the Buff Bus, which has free Wi-Fi