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The University of Washington is building a large dormitory complex on the edge of its campus. Because the site is next to Interstate 5, Portage Bay and a major regional bike path, designed the structure to interact with both the university and outside communities.

鈥淚t鈥檚 such an unusual site,鈥� said Xylia Buros, marketing manager for the firm. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not right in the middle of the campus basically, so they really had to connect that area with the rest of the campus and also make sure it felt integrated with the public spaces.鈥�

The 550,000-square-foot complex, named Mercer Court, will include 900 beds within five distinct buildings. It resembles an open hand, with fingers extending toward the bay. The main plaza, in the 鈥減alm,鈥� will serve as a common space for students.

Inside the plaza, an event space will be able to accommodate concerts, student rallies and, most notably, an urban farm. Students will run the farm, and the crops grown there will be used in some of the university鈥檚 cafeterias, Buros said.

The main building will abut a bike path and hold retail space, including a caf茅, on its bottom floor.

Ankrom Moisan has designed other student housing projects, but none took the community aspect this far, Buros said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very into that market, but this was unprecedented as far as the scale goes,鈥� she said.

All of the buildings will include interactive student spaces, such as music rooms, meeting rooms and a sustainable laundry room.

Another unique aspect is that rooms will include up to six beds. This decision was inspired by , an England-based firm that helped design the project and has designed student housing projects around the world.

By sharing a room with five others, each student will have a better chance to connect with somebody in the apartment, Buros said. And the overall goal, she added, is to provide more space for students to live on campus, because studies show that students who do so stay in school longer and perform better academically.

The buildings鈥� exteriors will be coated with a reflective metal skin and dark 鈥渞usticated clinker brick.鈥� They will be built on a sharp slant 鈥� a benefit, Buros said.

鈥淚t was very fortunate that (the slant) went from north to south,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t opened up views and let in natural light.鈥�

Project construction started in September 2011 and will be completed in phases; the first building is set to open in March 2013 and the last in September 2015.

Dave Heater of Ankrom Moisan鈥檚 Seattle office will speak about the project on Friday at Portland State University. The event, which will begin at 4 p.m., is free and open to the public. Go here for more information.

鈥淥n the Boards鈥� is a weekly feature that spotlights local firms鈥� best design work. Submissions from architectural and engineering firms are encouraged. Please call 503-802-7240 or email [email protected].