Providence, Rhode Island
Brown University celebrated not one but two new residence halls that opened in August 2023. The Chen Family and the William and Ami Danoff halls were designed for upper-division students, helping to relieve pressure on the off-campus renting market. These halls add 351 beds to the campus and offer two-, three-, and four-person suites with shared common spaces and en suite bathrooms across five floors. Both halls include 16 two-person suites with a kitchenette, two or three community kitchens, and multiple lounges on each floor. (The Chen Family Hall has 11 lounges and 12 kitchens, while Danoff Hall has 12 lounges and 13 kitchens.) “Our students love that they have space right on their floor to come together with other students in the community. Space like this is not available in many of our existing residence halls,” says Brenda Ice, the senior associate dean and senior director of the Office of Residential Life at Brown.
In addition to plenty of cooking and community space, both halls offer themed communities for students to choose from. The Chen Family Hall supports a living-learning community rooted in civic engagement, and Danoff Hall supports two living-learning communities: One is built around sustainability, and the other is an interfaith community. Along with all the positive physical attributes, these halls provide opportunities to join student communities, and their design supports and aligns with the four guiding principles of Brown’s residential life department. “Our department has four guiding principles (inclusive community, health and well-being, growth and development, and operational excellence), and each of these principles is evident in these new residence halls,” says Ice. — Camille Perlman
Spotlight is your chance to show off recent construction or renovation projects. Member institutions and architects are encouraged to share details about hall features, related programs, and how they connect to the overall housing mission as well as photographs of the completed building. Share your success stories.