New Model for Residential Life
Bryn Mawr College’s 132-acre campus, recognized as one of the most beautiful in the country, is characterized by a rolling landscape and distinctive Collegiate Gothic buildings that form a wonderfully scaled experience for those who study and work there. The residence halls are much loved by students for their unique features and are considered one of the best assets of the College’s student life. Atkin Olshin Schade Architects worked with Bryn Mawr College on the design of the first new residence hall built on campus in over fifty years. This posed an opportunity to evaluate how to provide contemporary amenities while upholding Bryn Mawr’s ongoing legacy.
The corner entry is marked by a floating transparent facade that marks the passage to the courtyard and reveals student lounges at the upper levels.
The new residence hall includes 100 single rooms and community spaces for studying and socializing. Sited near the main College entry and adjacent to Rockefeller Hall, the new building forms a gateway to the greater campus, which includes structures by noted architects Cope & Stewardson and Louis Kahn. The new residence hall connects across a new landscaped courtyard to an existing residential wing and dining hall. We renovated community spaces and residences for an additional 30 beds in the adjacent wing to serve as the Minority Student Center. Landscape improvements include outdoor bistro seating, and a lawn area framed by an entry pergola and indigenous plantings.
Project Team
Structural Engineer: O’Donnell & Naccarato, MEP Engineer: Bruce E. Brooks & Associates, Landscape Architect: Andropogon, Civil Engineer: Site Engineering Concepts, Construction Manager: Hunter Roberts, Photography: Jeffrey Totaro