On April 15, Brandeis revealed information about a residence hall in the works. Construction is set to begin in June 2025 and is expected to be completed in Spring 2027, with students being allowed to live in the residence hall that summer. The residence hall will be built in the South Campus Residential Lot (X Lot). On April 24, it was announced that the X Lot would permanently close on June 24, with X Lot permit holders being moved to the J Lot. Furthermore, 100 spots of the Theater Lot (T Lot) will be made unavailable as well, those permit holders being moved to various other lots on campus.
The “new state-of-the-art residence hall” will have 631 beds. It will be set up in 14 residential “neighborhoods,” with each one containing around 50 occupants in single and double bedrooms. In addition, each “neighborhood” will have a lounge and a kitchen. According to the Brandeis website, the goal of these neighborhoods is “to foster connection and community.” Other amenities of this new residence hall include an exercise room, an outdoor bike shelter, landscape terraces and gardens, and a social lounge that is expected to fit 150 students. There will also be air conditioning throughout the hall and “gender neutral and single-occupancy” restrooms.
The construction project manager for this new residence hall is the Boston-based William Rawn Associates and Dimeo Construction, who also worked on the Skyline Residence Hall. The company’s goals for this project are “targeting Passive House standards and incorporating all-electric systems, triple-glazed windows and a rooftop prepared for solar panels.” This residence hall is also the beginning of Brandeis’ three-phased residential plan, which is focused on “enhancing the quality of student life through new construction, major renovations and the strategic removal of aging facilities.” Also, according to Brandeis’ website, the construction of this residential hall is “one of the most significant investments in campus infrastructure in Brandeis’ history.”
There is a lot of excitement about this residential plan and how it could improve Brandeis housing. With the announcement of these plans, Interim President Arthur Levine stated “This is more than just a building project—it’s a statement about our priorities. We are investing in our students and in the future of Brandeis. This residence hall will support community, well-being and the dynamic student experience that defines our university.” Vice President of Student Affairs Andrea Dine stated, “As we look to the future of campus housing, our goal is to create spaces that foster connection, health and belonging. This new residence hall is designed with those values at its core.”
Site models and plans for this residence hall, which display the vision for the building, lounges, terraces, social spaces and the immediate outdoors, can be found on the new residence hall page of the Brandeis website.
