Opened: August 2021
Architects: LTL Architects and Perfido Weiskopf Wagstaff + Goettel Architects
Even at a school noted for innovation like Carnegie Mellon University is, the 14-month turnaround to construct a new residence hall raised some eyebrows. After having to pause the process for about three months due to the pandemic, and with a hard deadline to have the hall ready for students, the Fifth and Clyde House project was expedited to include construction six-days-a-week and even seven-days-a-week for the final month. But when the 2021 academic year arrived, even though some punch-list items remained, the 98,000-square-foot hall was ready and waiting.
The Fifth and Clyde House features 264 beds in semi-suite and suite configurations spaced over six stories. Approximately one-quarter of the building is dedicated to common space that includes study spaces, a community kitchen, a lounge, and two laundry rooms. Each floor has two built-in reflection nooks, and the structure features four green roofs and a public art sculpture. The hall also includes a number of other features that allowed it to achieve LEED Gold status. Bricks were recycled for the exterior, which also helped maintain the look and feel of the surrounding neighborhood. An energy-efficient exterior reduces heat intake. Bamboo was used for ceilings, finishes, and custom-built furniture, and acoustic balancing kept the hall particularly quiet.
The Fifth and Clyde House is complemented by the Fifth Avenue Neighborhood Commons opened approximately a month after the hall. This 5,000-square-foot community space includes music practice spaces (including ones equipped with a keyboard, a drumkit, a speaker, microphone, and amplifier for group performances), study spaces, a multipurpose room, and a wellness/dance room outfitted with spring-loaded flooring.
Josh Schaldenbrand, the housefellow for Fifth and Clyde, notes that “the neighborhood model is an intentional concept, and the commons is an intentional space within that physical environment. Having the commons in place says we want to create the space for people to come together, to meet one another and connect, and to engage in all of the things they are passionate about.”
— James A. Baumann