1. Notice of Scoping for the University of Connecticut Honors Residence Hall

Municipality where proposed project might be located: Mansfield

Address of Possible Project Location: Gilbert Road on the University of Connecticut Storrs Campus, Mansfield, Connecticut

Project Description:The University of Connecticut (UCONN) proposes to construct a new Honors Program Residence Hall and dining facility on South Campus, at the corner of Gilbert Road and Mansfield Drive.  The proposed residence hall will include approximately 650 beds and an integrated dining facility providing approximately 700 seats.  The proposed facility will total approximately 210,000 gross square feet within a 5- to 6-story structure and an 8- to 9-story tower element.  This building will serve as the new heart of the UCONN Honors community, strategically located to foster greater integration with the existing campus community, while providing a single home for the various programs that comprise the University’s Honors and Enrichment programs.  The proposed facility will include program offices, seminar and multipurpose rooms, and common spaces.  The project will also include creation of adjacent outdoor spaces that support recreation, learning, and reflection, and foster connectivity with the surrounding campus.

The project is anticipated to tie into existing central utilities for chilled water, steam, and electricity, will receive backup power from a dedicated emergency generator, and will be designed to achieve a minimum Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designation. The proposed location for the site of the residence hall and dining facility is within Mirror Lake’s watershed which discharges to the Fenton River watershed, and it is also partially within the University of Connecticut National Register Historic District. Construction of the Honors Residence Hall and dining facility will require the removal of two houses on the south side of Gilbert Road that are contributing structures to the National Register district. The proposed action includes closure of Gilbert Road to vehicular traffic for approximately 950 feet between Whitney Road and Mansfield Road to create a pedestrian walkway and modifications to Whitney Road to accommodate redirected traffic from Gilbert Road.  

Project Map:  Click here to view a map of the project area.

Written comments: from the public are welcomed and will be accepted through December 18, 2014.

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this project at:

Date:      December 2, 2014

Time:      7:00 p.m. (Doors will be open at 6:00 p.m. to allow review of informational materials.)

Place:      Room 146, UConn Bishop Center; One Bishop Circle; Storrs, CT

Written comments should be sent to:

Name:    Paul Ferri

Agency:   UConn - Office of Environmental Policy

Address: 31 LeDoyt Road, U-3055; Storrs, CT 06269

Fax:        860-486-5477

E-Mail:   paul.ferri@uconn.edu

If you have questions about the Public Scoping Meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, please contact Mr. Ferri as directed above.