Furthering an Academic Mission of Excellence
One of the great Ivy League universities, Dartmouth College is renowned for its academics and residential life, which are integral to its formative undergraduate experience. We were asked to design Fahey Hall and McLane Hall, which together create a new 205–bed undergraduate residence hall. The building faces Tuck Mall and is adjacent to many historically important Georgian Revival buildings. Therefore, it was paramount that we develop a contextually sympathetic design. We oriented the building along an east-west axis to take advantage of the southern exposure; it steps down with the slope of the site and provides wonderful views of the campus and woods.
The new building completes a residential cluster with Russell Sage and Butterfield Halls, and provides interior and exterior spaces to encourage activities and interaction among all of the students in the cluster. A combination of hardscape and planted areas form outdoor areas that serve multiple functions. Inside, the largest commons room accommodates up to 250 people for lectures, presentations, films, and dinners. Study lounges, living rooms and kitchens on each floor accommodate students’ residential, social and academic needs. Dartmouth has a strong commitment to energy conservation, and we used an integrated approach to building systems, including ground-source heat rejection, to obtain LEED Gold certification.
Project Team
Structural Engineer: Silman; MEP Engineer: Flack & Kurtz; Civil Engineer: McFarland Johnson; Landscape Architect: Saucier + Flynn; Sustainability: Energysmiths; Photography: Jeffrey Totaro
A southwest-facing glass connector between Fahey and McLane offers sweeping views of Tuck Mall and contains the primary social spaces serving the cluster.
