A Residence Hall Built Around Students
Published On: July 14, 2026
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Industry: Education
When students move away from home for the first time, where they live shapes far more than where they sleep. Residence halls become places where friendships begin, study groups form, and a sense of belonging takes root. That's exactly what Western Michigan University set out to create with Valley Oaks—a new residence hall designed to redefine the first-year student experience.
Custer was proud to partner with Hanbury Design and The Christman Company on this transformative project, helping furnish a space that reflects the evolving needs of today's students while supporting Western's vision for a more connected campus.
Opening in Fall 2026, the new 275,000-square-foot Valley Oaks Residence Hall replaces the aging Valley 1 dorm with a modern, thoughtfully designed living environment located in the heart of Goldsworth Valley. Reserved exclusively for first-year students, the residence hall provides an inviting home base where students can learn, collaborate, recharge, and build meaningful relationships during one of the most important transitions of their lives.
Rather than relying on a traditional dormitory model, Valley Oaks embraces a community-first approach. Every floor offers a variety of spaces that encourage students to move naturally between studying, socializing, and relaxing throughout the day. Community living areas, collaboration rooms, quiet study spaces, game tables, and shared gathering areas provide opportunities for both planned and spontaneous connections.
The main floor serves as the social heart of the building, featuring a shared kitchen and dining area, flexible multipurpose rooms, a wellness room, staff offices, and welcoming common spaces that encourage students to gather outside of their rooms. Outdoor amenities, including a second-floor deck overlooking shared green space, extend the living experience beyond the building itself and create additional places for students to connect with one another.
Designed to complement its natural surroundings, Valley Oaks incorporates mass timber construction and draws inspiration from the wooded landscape surrounding the Valleys. Warm materials, abundant natural light, and carefully considered shared spaces create an atmosphere that feels welcoming from the moment students arrive—blurring the line between residence hall and home.
As Dr. Barry Olson, Associate Vice President of Campus Life, explained:
"This project is an entirely different approach to a residence hall at Western. The use of mass timber, as well as a strong sense of connection to the wooded environment surrounding the Valleys, will provide a cutting-edge residence hall experience that adds warmth and a true sense of home. With varying levels of privacy, as well as adding spaces for virtual study, play and reflection, Valley Oaks will serve as a wonderful starting point for student success."
That vision aligns closely with Custer's belief that thoughtfully designed spaces can positively influence how people learn, connect, and thrive. Today's students need more than desks and dorm rooms—they need environments that support different ways of studying, foster collaboration, encourage wellness, and create opportunities for meaningful interaction. Valley Oaks was intentionally designed to do exactly that.
By offering a variety of spaces that accommodate everything from quiet reflection to active collaboration, the residence hall empowers students to choose how and where they learn best while building lasting connections with their peers. Every space contributes to an environment that supports academic success, personal well-being, and a stronger campus community.
Projects like Valley Oaks demonstrate the impact of intentional design on the student experience. We're honored to have partnered with Hanbury Design and The Christman Company to help create a residence hall that will welcome generations of Broncos and serve as the starting point for countless college journeys.