UConn’s Connecticut Hall

The University of Connecticut (UConn), located in Storrs, is renowned as a top-tier public research university with a strong tradition in athletics—particularly in NCAA Division basketball where its teams, the UConn Huskies, are celebrated for their determination and excellence. This spirit of resilience and high performance is mirrored in the university’s approach to architecture, blending modern, sustainable design with historical elements to create a campus that is both functional and visually captivating.

UConn’s Connecticut Hall is a seven-story student residence located at the corner of Gilbert and Mansfield roads. Part of UConn’s South Campus, it offers 650 suite-style beds for students in the Honors Program, the Nursing Learning program, and the Wellness Community, along with a 500-seat dining hall.

Developed in collaboration with Cladding Concepts, the leaders in innovative facade solutions for high-performance, sustainable buildings in the Tri-state area and designed by Sasaki Associates and architect Jeff Pleshek of Newman Architects, the new residence hall was a key component of the $215 million Next Generation Connecticut program. This initiative aimed to modernize existing facilities, support the increasing demand for student housing and educational spaces, and achieve LEED Gold and Connecticut High Performance Building Standards.

The UConn’s Connecticut Hall faced a significant challenge to find a material that could withstand the harsh freeze-thaw conditions typical of Connecticut's climate. The selected material had to be not only durable but also align with the building’s aesthetic goals and ensure longevity, while meeting UConn’s sustainability standards.

Neolith was chosen as a substitute for the initially proposed locally quarried stone facade due to concerns of spalling due to the freeze-thaw cycle, making Neolith’s durability, low-maintenance qualities, and versatile design options the ideal choice, ensuring the facade remains intact through Connecticut's harsh winters.

According to Cladding Concepts, "Neolith was the clear choice when we were faced with the difficult task of selecting material durable enough to handle the extreme winters of Connecticut, while maintaining the aesthetic harmony with the rest of the building’s design."

Neolith Jura Stone was a custom color developed and created from scratch to seamlessly integrate into the building’s design, perfectly complementing the surrounding brick facade and contributing to a modern yet timeless architectural style.

Inspired by the Jura Beige limestone from the Jura Mountains in southern Germany, this Neolith custom color features luminous bands interwoven with fossils, making it the perfect complement to rustic décor styles.

Neolith developed a custom-made product following the design needs the architects wanted for the project. Versatile and highly resistant, this material is suitable for a wide range of interior and exterior applications. Its exceptional durability makes it ideal for large-scale projects and high-traffic areas.

Building on the architect's vision, Neolith collaborated closely with the design team to develop the ideal surface for the project. The result is a color that blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment, harmonizing beautifully with the adjacent brick facade. This collaboration ensured the material met the architectural aesthetic of UConn’s Connecticut Hall besides providing LEED Gold points to the overall project.

A fundamental factor in the success of the project was the implementation of the StrongFix system, a solution specifically designed by Neolith for ventilated facades. The Neolith StrongFix system revolutionizes facade installation with its seamless and highly efficient process. For the UConn rainscreen, each 6mm+ (1/4’’) panel reinforced with a backing mesh arrived at the job site pre-cut to size directly from the factory, ensuring precision and eliminating on-site cutting errors.

The system is fully industrialized in a controlled environment, where aluminum rails are pre-attached to the back of the panels, minimizing labor and reducing installation time. With this innovative approach, installers simply hang the panels onto the J-Channels and make final adjustments, streamlining the entire process while guaranteeing a flawless, secure, and aesthetically perfect facade. The lightweight 6mm panels are easier to handle than thicker alternatives, improving efficiency and maneuverability on-site.

Additionally, Neolith’s technical department designed and supplied a custom-engineered solution with specific metallic tubes, ensuring the system could withstand UConn’s unique wind loads and structural requirements, delivering a secure, high-performance, and visually stunning facade built to last.

Made from natural raw materials with below 9% crystalline silica content, Neolith surfaces boast the lowest silica content range in the industry. With over 60 international awards for product design and sustainability, it demonstrates a strong commitment to the highest standards of quality, sustainability, and performance, completely aligned with UConn’s goals.