Housing facilities are an integral part of a University’s ability not only to recruit, but also to retain students. Desirable amenities such as living / learning environments, full-service kitchens, and suite-style living are becoming expected amenities rather than exceptions. To fulfill the expanding expectations of students, Glavé & Holmes Architecture is working with colleges and universities to incorporate current and future trends to enhance the student experience while also balancing the operational costs of these facilities. Our residence hall portfolio includes a range of projects, from small renovations to new 500-bed living/ learning spaces.
North Court Residence Hall Renovation
University of Richmond
Originally designed by Ralph Adams Cram, the 66,000 sf, 100-year North Court was built as a residential community for Westhampton Women’s College (now the University of Richmond). Still a popular housing option for students, the University of Richmond recently commissioned Glavé & Holmes Architecture to fully renovate the residence hall. Traditional hall style rooms and common baths were replaced by semi-suite configurations, with expanded amenities for social gathering, study groups, and formal meetings. The original dining hall and large meeting spaces have been transformed to house the music department, with a recital hall, choir room and world music practice room attuned to meet the growing demands of the music department.
The interior spaces are warm, inviting and enduring in nature, as was the original intent of Cram’s multi-functional building. The renovation includes new building systems and modifications for code and accessibility compliance. The project also includes a comprehensive remediation of the building envelope to resolve water infiltration issues and increase energy efficiency.
Green & Gold Village Replacement
College of William and Mary
Glavé & Holmes is working with the College of William and Mary on the replacement of the existing residence halls known as the Green & Gold Village. The feasibility study explores the options relating to renovation or replacement of three residence halls (Lion, Eagle and Griffin) totaling 112,896 sf. The current bed count is 426 beds and the replacement target is 576 beds. The study developed a phasing plan to accommodate demolition and new construction in order to limit the total reduction of beds all at once. The architectural design will follow William & Mary’s Campus Design Guidelines and Facilities Management Technical Standards and is contextual to the surrounding campus community.
New Residence Hall
Roanoke College
In response to a growing student population on this largely residential campus, Roanoke College commissioned Glavé & Holmes Architecture, in association with OWPR, to design a new 200-bed residence hall in the newly developed athletic quad. This innovative facility provides a variety of housing options for students, including four-bed, apartment style suites, with a mix of single and double rooms throughout all models. This variety encourages diversity of housing preferences and price points within the same building and allows for the possibility of a student remaining in the same residence hall throughout his or her entire college experience – transitioning to a more private housing experience from year to year. The residence hall also provides an integrated living / learning experience with classrooms, a seminar room, a kitchen, and faculty office space on the lower level.
The exterior design of the new residence hall is influenced by the Collegiate Gothic structures on the campus and maintains the rich detailing of this style with brick and cast stone accents. The building is arranged around a courtyard to form an outdoor room, providing places for residential life both inside and outside the building.
Rappahannock River Residence Hall and Parking Deck
Christopher Newport University
In response to an era of nation-wide competition to attract the best students, Christopher Newport University (CNU) has upheld its mission to provide a variety of high-quality student life experiences with the new Rappahannock River Hall. Designed by Glavé & Holmes to be stylistically compatible with other recent facilities, this 450-bed residence hall with an attached 270-car parking garage is targeted toward upper classmen who desire an apartment experience while living on campus.
The living units are configured as autonomous apartments, complete with in-unit kitchens and laundry. Although the two, three, and four bed apartments have shared living and dining spaces, each bedroom is intended for a single student and has its own bathroom, providing a balance of privacy and community. To complement the interior program, Rappahannock River Hall has a semi-private garden space intended for student recreation and outdoor living. Viewed as the culmination of the on-campus experience for CNU students, Rappahannock River Hall provides juniors and seniors with a taste of post-graduation freedom with the convenience and safe community of being on campus.
Warwick River Residence Hall
Christopher Newport University
With a growing reputation for providing a high-quality student life experience on campus, Christopher Newport University engaged Glavé & Holmes to design a new residence hall for the Sophomore class. Accommodating nearly 500 residents, Warwick River Hall provides CNU students with suite-style units, typically containing two double-bed rooms sharing a bathroom and common living space. On the ground floor, each of the gracious entrance lobbies features a reception desk, comfortable seating, gas fireplaces, and a multi-purpose room suitable for social or academic purposes. In addition to the residential suites, each floor is equipped with two full kitchens, study spaces, and laundry facilities. As the first building in the newly developed northern portion of campus, Warwick River Hall firmly anchors CNU’s student life presence, ensuring an immersive experience within the university “village.”
Greek Housing Village
Christopher Newport University
Glavé & Holmes developed a design for a new Greek Housing Village of eight fraternity and sorority houses for Christopher Newport University. The Greek Housing Village provides an identifiable home on campus for the Greek organizations. G&HA developed four house models, including a double unit which provides flexibility for CNU to accommodate smaller and larger groups from year to year. Each house has a unique façade to express their individuality within the Greek community, while contextually responding the other classically designed buildings on campus.
The first four houses are arranged radially at the end of the green space to create a community atmosphere and a shared “front yard.” The common space serves as a home for annual events and traditions, which lie at the heart of Greek Life at CNU. The houses are inhabited by third- and fourth-year residents and offer a combination of single and double rooms with shared bathrooms. Each house also includes laundry rooms, study spaces, a fully-equipped kitchen, chapter rooms, and public restrooms. The project has been designed in compliance with VEES (Virginia Energy Conservation and Environmental Standards) certification.
James River Residence Hall
Christopher Newport University
A neo-Georgian design aesthetic with elements of the Doric Order was selected for the new addition that forms the edge to the Great Lawn expansion to the north and encloses the courtyard currently formed by James River Hall and Santoro Hall. Continuing the architectural language and massing of recent buildings at Christopher Newport University, the exterior wall is brick with architectural precast elements including columns, cornices, and trim. The facility includes 62,862 square feet of new construction with 172 beds arranged in suite-style living where two rooms, each with two students, share a bathroom and living area. Although designated as an “addition” to the existing James River Hall, the building was designed as a stand-alone structure. The building also includes a partial fifth floor within the sloping roof structure.
Keeping with CNU’s “Student First” mission, this residence hall includes student amenities such as lounges, study rooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms on each floor. Also included is a central lobby with a staffed reception desk for student security. Additionally, the building houses a Resident Director’s office and a suite for the Resident Advisor.
Shenandoah River Hall
Christopher Newport University
Christopher Newport University hired Glavé & Holmes to study the design and feasibility of a mixed-use expansion of the student housing complex on the north edge of campus. The scope includes the demolition of the existing US Post Office building and Suntrust Tower, followed by the construction of structures to accommodate student apartments consisting of approximately 86 unites with 200 beds. The room models include mostly two and three bedroom apartments. Each bed will be in a private bedroom with a private bath. The bedrooms will share a common living space with a kitchen and laundry facilities. Circulation within the building is through interior corridors, with access control at all entrances.
The facility will also include 20,000 sf of office space for CNU, space for a branch bank with drive-through, and an expansion of the existing parking structure by 360 spaces to yield a capacity of 627 vehicles. The project will be located north of the existing Rappahannock River Hall and will include new outdoor recreation space between the two residence halls.
Thomas Branch Residence Hall
Randolph – Macon College
Glavé & Holmes designed the renovation and expansion of Thomas Branch, a three-story brick building built in the 1920’s, in response to Randolph-Macon College’s desire to combine existing accommodations for private residential life with new elements supporting student social and academic life. The interior of this building was adapted into new offices and seminar space on the first floor and new student residences, known as the Brock Residence Hall, on the upper two floors. The Brock Residence Hall houses students participating in the Wellness Environment for Living and Learning (W.E.L.L.), one of the living and learning environments.
An existing open courtyard, framed by the three wings of the building, was enclosed to create an atrium. This space includes the Higgins Academic Center, career counseling, and international studies. The original “U” shaped building, which included a parking lot in the courtyard, was programmed to include an atrium space for the gathering of students, the interaction of staff members, and for formal receptions.
North Campus Residence Halls
Randolph – Macon College
This group of three residence halls sits northeast of Randolph-Macon College’s historic campus and serves as a center for student life and activities.
Oriented around a major quadrangle, these one-story buildings were transformed into an “academic village” connected by new walks and pergolas. New work features enlarged new double-height lobbies, entrance porticoes, new windows, roofs and trim, as well as major interior improvements that create community study and gathering spaces. New mechanical and fire protection systems improve the comfort and safety of these buildings and new lighting, bathrooms, doors and finishes contribute to an enhanced student living environment. In the quadrangle, improvements such as new brick walks, landscape, lighting, site furnishings, plant materials, and storm drainage provide outdoor spaces for recreation, studying, and relaxing.
