New York, New York
Pace University has placed student engagement and development at the forefront of its latest residence hall. From the living space and academic space to the dining and socializing space, the new 15 Beekman Residence Hall provides layer upon layer of design elements that engage, support, and welcome students. Opened in August 2023, the hall has 12 floors within a 25-story tower that is dedicated to first-year student housing. It replaces Maria’s Tower in the 1 Pace Plaza Tower on Pace’s New York campus. While Maria’s Tower had been upgraded over the years since its opening in 1966, the design of the 15 Beekman Residence Hall gave Pace the opportunity to create more engaging spaces with the conveniences and comforts of home.
For 15 Beekman, Pace was given the design option to reconfigure room layouts from the traditional corridor style to a modern suite style. It has 484 beds, and each suite offers three to four bedrooms with a semi-private bathroom and kitchenette. “I am excited about the suite-style accommodations and the opportunities they give our students,” says Patrick Roger-Gordon, assistant dean and university director of housing operations. “Groups of five to 10 students can develop small, tight-knit living communities. This is consistent with our goal of creating spaces that foster a sense of belonging.” There are also independent ADA rooms on each of the 12 floors. Residents have access to a central laundry room and three elevators that allow them to reach their suites with ease.
The tower that 15 Beekman operates within is a mixed-use building, and students, residents and non-residents alike, gain entry by swiping their ID at independent turnstiles that are adjacent to a combination welcome desk and security desk. The nonresidential floors of the tower are loaded with both academic and socially engaging features. There are three dining areas, each with its own unique offerings and atmosphere, and a new library that encompasses two floors on its own and provides cutting-edge technology. The tutoring center, called The Learning Commons, and the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems together cover one floor. The Bianco Room serves as a multipurpose space and reception area that can be used for student events and activities, performances, and orientation. And woven into and throughout all of this are intentionally placed comfortable and welcoming spaces where students can gather, study, and socialize.
But perhaps the most enticing features of the building are two terraces that just opened to residents. The 6th-floor terrace is attached to a dining facility, and the 25th-floor terrace is an extension of a common area of 15 Beekman. The 25th-floor terrace is a spacious lounge that encourages socializing and dining with a kitchen that has four cooking stations and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide 270-degree views of the city of Manhattan. A fitness room, meeting room, and the residence director’s office complete this floor.
Jillian Sturdivant, director of residential life, says her favorite part of the hall is how it provides “the opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to connect with students in one building that hosts a variety of different environments, from promoting academic exploration to having a casual conversation over lunch. It gives a feeling of belonging in a city that hosts eight million people with intentionality in mind.” — 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.