Árbol de la Vida

719 honors students live in this honors hall as of Fall 2011. With its bold architecture and modern finish, Árbol de la Vida (Tree of Life) is a stimulating environment for you as you start your college career at the University of Arizona.
Located in the southwest quadrant of the UA campus, this hall is convenient to the Park Student Union, University Boulevard, and is just a short walk to classroom buildings. The five buildings, connected by bridges, ascend from four to six stories. Students share double rooms on elongated corridors that are interspersed with study rooms, informal gathering lounges and community bathrooms. Árbol de la Vida offers many community spaces, large and small, for students holding discussions with a Faculty Fellow, attending classes, and of course, socializing.

Collaborative learning tools stimulate learning and teamwork in the hall. Building Dashboard, a custom-designed interactive website and kiosk, displays the hall’s use of energy and water. The visually engaging system encourages students to monitor their utility usage and develop life-long habits regarding sustainability.
In addition, media:scape™, set up in a large study room, enables multiple users to access and share digital information. AVTEQ workstations enable video classes and conferences between residents and global partners on a regular basis.

Smart Sustainablity

Roof-mounted solar panels will provide a significant amount of the hot water needs
Computer-designed awnings on the south side of buildings allows for optimal sunlight in the winter and blocks it in the summer
Low-flow water fixtures include low-flow showerheads and faucets and dual-flush toilets
Smart thermostats in the rooms will recognize when the room is unoccupied and reduce energy consumption
Multiple “green” outlets per room shut off power to anything plugged in if the room is unoccupied
Large windows open for direct ventilation and sunlight and feature dual window shades
Passive water harvesting, storm water mitigation and drought-tolerant native plants used for landscaping
Constructed of recycled building materials and materials manufactured within 600 miles of the halls