The University of Denver has developed an approach to residence hall living that is designed to significantly increase the positive effect of the environment on the student. Two residential programs complement the classroom environment by housing students with like or related academic interests and providing equipment related to the students' interests, thereby offering them the chance to manipulate and play, in an active manner, with the ideas that have been stimulated in the classroom. One program is designed for disciplines that predominantly use empirical methods, the other programs for disciplines dealing with symbolism and aesthetics. The academic performance of students living in the halls shows marked improvement, and resident retention within the halls, especially among students in the empirical hall, is four or five times the level achieved before the program began. (Author/MLF)