Casa Italiana is a co-ed residence hall housing about 380 first- and second-year students in two sections: Vintage Casa , with traditional single rooms, community bathrooms, and no air conditioning, and Modern Casa, with suite- and apartment-style accommodations, including four double bedrooms, two bathrooms, living areas, and air conditioning.
Communal spaces include lounges with TVs and game equipment, a large commons, fully-equipped central kitchen, three classrooms, a 4th-floor terrace and multiple courtyards with seating, grills, and a bocce ball court.
Suite Layout
Room Dimensions* - 16'L x 9.5'W
*Please note: Room sizes within each hall vary slightly due to building structure.
Apartment Layout
Double Bedroom Dimensions* - 16'L x 9.5'W
*Please note: Room sizes within each hall vary slightly due to building structure.
Design Single Layout
Typical Room Dimensions* - 12' x 9.5'
*Please note: Room sizes within each hall vary slightly due to building structure
da Vinci Residential Learning Community
da Vinci Residential Learning Community (RLC) is focused on the themes of Italian culture and heritage, science, engineering, and the arts. The RLC is housed within Casa Italiana residence hall.
The da Vinci RLC celebrates Italian heritage and culture and honors the many varied interests of Leonardo da Vinci. In da Vinci RLC, students generate ideas, prototype solutions, and solve problems.
Much like Leonardo, da Vinci RLC focuses on engineering, science, and visual art, which supports a well-rounded academic and social experience. da Vinci RLC offers opportunities to engage our minds and connect our hearts to a greater sense of purpose. In da Vinci RLC, we amplify the passions of our inner Renaissance person.
Additionally, da Vinci RLC is home to Ciao da Vinci!, a community on the fourth floor of Casa Italiana that celebrates Italian culture. The community is closely connected to the Italian department and hosts numerous activities, including bocce ball tournaments, Italian movie nights, home-cooked family-style dinners, and a trip to the nearby "Little Italy” neighborhood. First-year students in Ciao da Vinci! take a Cultures and Ideas sequence course called "Italy: Gateway of Cultures." Through class discussions and guest lectures, this two-quarter course explores Italian culture from Ancient Rome to Italy today.
Students are encouraged to engage in their broader community by attending the many events hosted by Community Facilitators. da Vinci RLC commuter students can enjoy access to the Casa Commons which includes access to the community kitchen.
Community-wide events in Casa tend to have high participation and engagement. Students may return to the community all four years. The legacy of returning students helps create an affinity to traditional programs and events.
The front desk serves multiple functions. Students can study at the counter, chat with the student staff, print materials through SCU SmartPrint, and check out free resources such as ping pong paddles, billiard equipment, kitchen items, cleaning supplies, and board games.
The da Vinci RLC staff consists of 10 Community Facilitators (CFs), 1 Spirituality Facilitator (SF), 1 Faculty Director (FD), 1 Assistant Resident Director (ARD), and 1 Resident Director (RD).
The da Vinci RLC 2025-2026 staff includes:
Leadership Team
- Anna Eidmann, Resident Director
- Victor Bueno Garcia, Assistant Resident Director
- Michael Taylor, Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty Director
- Kiara Mariscal, Spirituality Facilitator
Community Facilitators (CFs)
Each Community Facilitator in Casa Italiana works with approximately 35 students. All student staff receive training in conflict resolution, roommate mediation, crisis response, community building, and campus resources. CFs are regularly present in their community to support residents. Students may contact their Community Facilitator or Leadership Team directly for support.
Every Residential Learning Community (RLC) offers several programs and events each week. Community Facilitators and Leadership Councils host floor and community-wide socials, facilitate activities to promote wellness and mental health, lead students to on-campus events, and organize service opportunities.
Events traditionally hosted in da Vinci RLC include:
- da Vinci Day - On the first weekend of the school year, residents are invited to play games in a floor competition filled with food, friends, and fun.
- Prima Notte - On the first Monday of each quarter, residents with kitchens cook a spaghetti dinner for those without kitchens and everyone joins together for a family-style meal.
- dV Caffe - Every Tuesday night, residents gather for free dessert in the Casa Commons.
- Contact Us
A Leadership Team coordinates the functions of each RLC. The da Vinci RLC Leadership Team consists of a live-in Resident Director (RD), Faculty Director (FD), Spirituality Facilitator (SF), and Assistant Resident Director (ARD). The RLC’s Leadership Team is a valuable resource and its members can help students with both personal and academic concerns.
