New York City for various reasons has some of the highest construction costs in the world. Residential high-rise construction costs are estimated at $562/sq ft [2]. Obviously there is variance in building costs based on the quality of finishings, ceiling height, facilities, etc. I guarantee you, you'd prefer to live in a modern residential high-rise pretty much anywhere in the country rather than in these windowless cells (sorry, "rooms").
Why is this so high? Doesn't UCSB already own the land so this isn't a factor?
There are a ton of problems with this building. I mean windowless is fine until the AC fails or is inadequate or there's just a power failure.
These are I believe arranged in suites of 10 that are "private" with some common facilities. 10 is rather high. I know people who had a similar arrangement with groups as small as 4 and it was a problem.
This just strikes me as pure ego from someone who is never told "no" who wants to enforce his view on the world so that even more sycophants can tell him how amazing he is. And then there's the university that doesn't care about anything other than the donation check clearing.
Student housing simply shouldn't be this way.
[1]: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/uc-santa-barbara-mega-dorm-mung...
[2]: https://www.constructiondive.com/news/construction-costs-in-....