The Courtyards

The Courtyards was the first “apartment-style” residential hall on the UNL campus. Designed as a residential village, The Courtyards holds 478 students in 2-bed or 4-bed suite style units. The plan of this five floor structure is organized around three very distinct and unique courtyards. A visitor to any of the courtyards will experience a neighborhood atmosphere created by four levels of living suites for the north and south courtyards and five levels of living suites around the public entry courtyard. The living units on the first level are set back from the upper level facades of the courtyards, providing an exterior patio entry.

The exterior design of the building takes cues from both the nearby Greek Houses (brick veneer and steeply pitched dark shingle roofs) and the recent Kauffman Center housing north of the Student Union (brick color and limestone accents). The north façade of the project presents a more varied geometry in response to the Chemical Engineering Othmer Center across Vine Street, relying upon a combination of gable and parapet roof edges whose vertical heights and proportions complement the scale of this academic neighbor to the north.

All of the living suites, whether two or four bed configurations, include a shared bath for every two beds, a living space, kitchenette with eating counter and generous storage closets.