Myers and Rollings investigated the consequences of living in a university dormitory in which bedrooms do not have windows (Munger Graduate Residences at the University of Michigan). After collecting data from people living in Munger and at other locations, the researchers reported that Munger provides “residential units containing shared living spaces for six or seven residents who each receive their own private bedroom and bathroom. Of the building’s 631 bedrooms, 87% do not have windows. . . . When compared to non-Munger residents, Munger residents reported significantly lower MWB [mental wellbeing], attentional function . . . and social connectedness. . . . 75.9% of Munger . . . residents reported that windowless bedrooms negatively affected MWB. . . . According to residents, Munger’s generous shared amenities and naturally lit common areas did not compensate for perceived negative MWB effects of windowless private bedrooms, inadequate indoor environmental quality, inability to control lighting, temperature, and ventilation, and high-density living with randomly-assigned roommates. . . . . Munger residence hall offers graduate students relatively affordable housing and generous shared amenities (e.g., convenience market, theater, game room, gym, rooftop running track and patio, study spaces, and activity programming).”
Hannah Myers and Kimberly Rollings. “Perceived Effects of Residential Design on Mental Well-Being: A Quasi-Experimental Study of the University of Michigan’s Munger Graduate Residences.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, in press, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102408