UConn’s newest residence hall, the Peter J. Werth Residence Tower, is a $105 million, 8-story residence hall dedicated to Learning Community students. The building houses eight Living & Learning Communities – EcoHouse, Engineering House, Innovation House, Honors to Opportunities (H2O) House, La Comunidad Intelectual, Public Health House, ScHOLA2RS House (Scholastic House Of Leaders in support of African American Researchers & Scholars), and WiMSE (Women in Math, Science, & Engineering). The building is equipped with residential space for 727 student as well as community gathering places and seminar rooms to encourage innovation and academic success across disciplines. The 210,000-square-foot residence hall houses mostly freshmen and sophomores. The majority of rooms are doubles, with some singles available for RAs and mentors, along with six apartments for hall directors and graduate students working with the Learning Communities. Another unique feature of NextGen Hall is the Learning Community Innovation Zone (LCIZ). The Innovation Zone is designed to support individual and group projects and the development of practical problem-solving skills. This space is equipped with items such as 3D printers, a textile station, laser cutter, wood working equipment and tools, Arduino kits, mobile white boards, and much more. This maker space is designed to be accessible to all Learning Community students, including those that do not reside in Werth Tower. The building also has large event space including the NextGen Forum and Idea Lab. These spaces are designed to give Learning Communities the opportunities to hold events and programs such as guest speakers, workshops and social events.
