CREJ

December 2021 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 89 with different levels, or scales, of community. Four bedrooms are grouped around an internal porch, then grouped into pods of 24 students, each pod having its own social area. Then pods are grouped into houses, and houses grouped into the overall village. Or, as Hillhouse refers to it, “operating a bit like a set of Russian nesting dolls.” Dimond has a variety of social areas, including a village kitchen in the lobby for group dinners, gender neutral bath- rooms, andmultiple TV lounges and study areas on each floor. “We've tried to ring out every possible place for socializa- tion in this hall to help those students form a sense of con- nection,” says Hillhouse. “Dimond is meant to try to help stu- dents make connections with one another, get a sense of belonging with the school and stay with the school.” / The University of Denver / The fourth-floor bridge connects Dimond’s two wings. Dimond has a variety of social areas. Dimond is meant to try to help students make connections with one another.