Boston College - Upper Campus Student Housing Connector Buildings

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

The Boston College Upper Campus, Student Housing Expansion, added a 4th floor of student housing and elevators to (7) existing buildings, creating (367) new beds. The original buildings had very little social space for the students, so (2) Community Connector Buildings were created in between two pairs of existing buildings.

The new buildings provide social lounges, study spaces, and additional student bedroom rooms. To insert the new Connector Building the exterior façades of the two existing housing buildings that join the new Connector Building are removed so that the existing housing corridors on each floor lead seamlessly into the new Connector Building.

The design of the Connector Building offers large glass windows on the first floor to provide a transparent view into the building, welcoming the students like a luminous lantern, and showcasing the activities within to students passing by. The new Connector Buildings are designed to combine traditional brick and limestone materials, contemporary design details, to create a timeless transitional exterior façade that coordinates with many of the existing buildings on the campus.