David Russell Apartments
David Russell Apartments (or DRA) is a large residential complex owned by the University of St Andrews, its first phase being opened in September 2003. It replaces, and was built on the site of the now demolished David Russell Hall (often referred to as DRH). It is situated around twenty minutes' walk from the centre of St Andrews, in East Fife, Scotland.
The development consists of a series of independent buildings (or houses) clustered around a central facilities building, and overlooking a man made lake, which forms part of the sustainable urban drainage scheme. Uniquely, the building is topped by a grass roof, which acts as a heat insulator during the winter and a NATURAL cooler during the summer months. In 2006, DRA was the first university residence in the country to be awarded the Green Tourism Business Scheme's Gold Award.
Construction
The first four houses of DRA (named Scott, Lindsay, Forbes and Haig) were completed in time for the University's Martinmas semester of 2003-2004 and are situated to the immediate east of the original DRH boundary. Up until February 2004 students continued to live in the original DRH houses and shared a central facilities building called the Strachan Suite with the four new DRA houses. In 2004, all remaining residents in DRH were transferred to other student halls in St Andrews and the original complex was razed to the ground.
Building immediately commenced on the second phase which comprised Tulloch, Shairp, Herkless, Nisbet and Lang houses, followed by Haldane, Fraser and Donaldson and The New central facilities block, and was completed in time for the start of the 2005-2006 academic year. The final phase (for the time being), consisted of the construction of Eden, Dover and Hamilton houses, and was handed over from the builders in September 2006. However, cosmetic work around the site still takes place.
The majority of the names given to each of the new apartment blocks are the same as those used for the original David Russell houses. Although the University rebranded David Russell Hall as David Russell Apartments, the old name continues to be widely used, for example on service buses, maps, public signage and even at the entrance to the David Russell complex itself.
On the 23rd of February, 2007, Chancellor Gordon Brown formally opened the £34.7m David Russell Apartments. The hall was praised for its state-of-the-art environmentally friendly features.
Facilities
The apartments have been built to be attractive to golfers so include en-suite bathrooms, double beds with television sets and kitchens with ovens and dishwashers, which remains an unusual 'luxury' in college residences. The University rents rooms to conference guests during the golfing season, and to students outside that season at 75% of the in-season price. However, some students have complained about thin walls with poor sound insulation and that the layout of the apartments within each block does not contribute to students meeting each other and making friends.
The central facilities building contains a reception and administration area, meeting rooms, gaming and music suites, a smaller branch of B.E.S.S. run by the Students' Association, a large licensed bar and self-service bistro area.