Opened: August 2020Architects: Ayers Saint Gross
Denison University in Granville, Ohio, is in the midst of a major stretch of construction and renovation projects in support of providing four years of housing to its students. In fact, 98% of students live on Denison’s campus in a mixture of more traditional-style halls, apartment living, and even alternative-style housing such as the Homestead. The latest edition to this mix is Silverstein Hall, which will complete the senior quad and enable every senior student the option to live in apartment-style lodgings.
The project grew out of the discovery process during master planning that the campus did not have enough apartment beds to accommodate the demand for that unit type from seniors. The ongoing work will create a more cohort-based distribution of housing offerings. Silverstein Hall, in particular, will allow seniors to live in on-campus apartments in close proximity to other seniors. These apartments are also designed to provide a transitional experience to life after college in support of Denison’s goal to prepare students to be “active citizens in a democratic society.”
Its two buildings, made of brick and connected by a glass walkway, manage to both complement and update the campus’s classic architectural spirit. The buildings house 162 beds in four-bedroom apartments with large windows to allow natural light. The ground floor features a welcoming gathering space designed to serve as a “living room” for the senior class community and includes a convenience store option that provides local produce and baked goods. Due to COVID restrictions, some of these spaces remained closed until October, but once open, they were appreciated. “We hoped students would use this area as a coffee shop or study space by day and more of a bar or social spot at night, and this is happening quite naturally,” says Carianne Meng, director of student housing operations and planning. “During the day, students appreciate having more room to meet up with friends in the gathering space to study or work on projects. Once the lights go down, students stream music, grab a bite to eat, and the whole vibe changes. It's very cool to watch our hopes become reality.”
— James A. Baumann