The University of Maine hosted a residential housing forum on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2 in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union, addressing the University’s housing shortage amid increasing student enrollment. The forum was open to students and staff, and presented a plan focused on building efficiency and student wellness while gathering feedback from attendees.
The University of Maine at Orono continues to face a housing shortage as student enrollment rises, reflected by a 13% jump from the previous year. Following the closing of Estabrooke Hall, 109 students found themselves in makeshift housing accommodations. As stated at the UMaine Student Government meeting on Sept. 10, there are currently a total of 216 students that have been placed in overflow housing.
The situation on campus is representative of an overarching housing crisis happening not only within the state of Maine, but across the nation. In 2022, there was a, “shortage of 36,378 rental homes affordable and available for extremely low income renters throughout Maine,” according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Additionally, “63% of extremely low income households [are] spending more than half of their income on rent.” Whether on or off campus, students are navigating an increasingly competitive housing market with rising costs and limited availability within the state of Maine.
As reported in an April 15 Bangor Daily News article, UMaine has developed a plan to address student housing needs by launching a large-scale study with a $400,000 budget. The study will gather both public and professional input to design more area efficient residential halls. The university has been outsourced to the Scion group, a Chicago-based advisory firm specializing in campus housing.
Together, they created a plan that was shared during a residential housing forum, which took place in the Bangor room of the Memorial Union on Oct. 1 and Oct. 2. During the forum, they defined the plan as, “a large-scale planning effort that provides criteria and guidelines for campus improvements and facilities developments over time, closely aligned with the University’s academic mission and strategic vision.”
The forum was open to all students and staff, aiming to inform the public about the study’s progress and collect feedback. The welcoming message when entering the forum read, “We are excited to collaborate with you.” A large notepad next to the message encouraged students to provide input. By the first day, two notes had been written.
The plan appears to be more focused on building efficiency and aesthetics. In general, the research task force proposes constructing entirely new buildings over renovating existing ones. Their solution includes updating study spaces, introducing living/learning themes and adding more natural lighting and diverse greenery both in and outside campus buildings.
The presentation given at the open forum was critical of how UMaine is currently utilizing spaces within residential halls. Posters spread out across the room showcased floor plans for how the University could better utilize spaces in current halls, demonstrating how the efficiency of the buildings could be improved. Proposed changes include increasing the privacy and occupancy of bathrooms, introducing communal kitchens and improving traffic flow between rooms.
The residential housing plan also includes aspirations to take advantage of new 3D printing technology being developed. According to information presented at the forum, 3D printed homes would allow for cheaper and more efficient construction. The project is currently held back by the need for code authorization and finding a licensed architect willing to take a leap of faith with a medium not yet used in the public sector.
The progress showcased by UMaine over the past few years sets the stage for how the ongoing housing shortage on campus may be addressed.