Pacific University’s Cascade Hall with Mahlum Architects

Just over a year after groundbreaking, Pacific University’s newest residence hall is home to 200 undergraduate students. Cascade Hall, the 65,000-square-foot building embodies the spirit of living and learning on campus.

A mix of student lounges, recreation spaces, shared kitchens, and quiet study rooms will help students develop social and civic responsibility, build community and enhance academic success. An outdoor terrace that flows through to a large gathering space on the ground floor will host building-wide events and social activities.

To uphold Pacific University’s long-standing commitment to sustainability, the project is pursuing LEED Gold certification. Sustainable design strategies include capturing and reusing stormwater runoff for native plantings, a highly-efficient building envelope and systems, and direct ventilation and individual thermostats in each room with integrated window switches. Local materials were used to construct the building and as much construction waste as possible was recycled. Extensive bike parking is offered to students and the building will participate in the campus’s green housekeeping program.

A highly collaborative design-build partnership between Mahlum Architects and WALSH was a key component in the successful, extremely fast-track delivery of a new 60,000 SF, 200-bed residence hall at Pacific University. Prior to Cascade Hall, we have been lucky to have worked together on more than 35 projects on 25 college campuses.