Designed collaboratively with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the project embraces the hillside site by nestling into the terrain and shifting its form to follow the natural topography. This approach minimizes site disturbance, integrates the building into its setting, and allows the structure to visually unfold along the slope. The resulting composition creates a dynamic yet cohesive addition to the campus fabric.
The building’s massing is thoughtfully broken into a series of connected volumes, articulated by glazed connectors, or “knuckles,” that serve as communal gathering spaces as well as circulation nodes. These light-filled links introduce transparency, natural light, and relief to the façade, while providing students with informal social spaces that encourage interaction and community. The main connector also acts as an architectural moment, marking the transition between upper and lower campus levels and providing dual access points that gracefully negotiate the site’s grade change. This element anchors the composition visually and functionally, becoming a defining feature of the design.
Sustainability was a key consideration throughout the design. The building incorporates a green roof that helps manage stormwater, improves insulation, and provides a natural extension of the landscape. The brick façade is detailed with subtle horizontal eyebrows over the windows that animate the exterior by catching light and shadow throughout the day. At the pedestrian level, the first floor responds to the new outdoor courtyard created by the building’s placement, activating the space with communal areas for dining, gathering, and retail. The residence hall is not only intended to be a place to live. It’s a hub of campus life that reflects Keystone College’s commitment to sustainability, design excellence, and community connection.
