Like all of Framingham State’s recent construction, the University’s newest residence hall features the latest in energy efficiency. The 316-bed West Hall opened off Maynard Road in September, and is targeting LEED Gold certification, similar to North Hall, which opened in 2011.

The building features energy-efficient fiberglass windows, suite bedrooms with vacancy sensors that turn off lights if students forget and bedroom windows with interlocks that turn off the heat to the room if the window is opened.

“This building helps us meet the growing demand for high-quality on-campus living options,” Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos said. “We are proud of the fact that it’s built to some of the highest standards for energy efficiency.”

Framingham State’s efforts to “Go Green” have landed the University on the Princeton Review’slist of Green Colleges every year since 2010.

The project features great views of campus from the top floors, a large living area with a double-sized fireplace and a media lounge on the sixth floor with multimedia equipment for viewing movies and sporting events.

Residential floors are configured into two “neighborhoods” linked to a suite lounge on each floor. The opening of West Hall allows the University to transition O’Connor Hall from a residence hall to a sorely needed office space for faculty and staff.

This project is being funded through the Massachusetts State College Building Authority (MSCBA). It was designed by ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, and the general contractor is Consigli Construction.