Open to all: Ribbon cut at Skyline Residence Hall

Brandeis welcomed students, faculty, staff and trustees to the opening of Skyline

Brandeis University cut the ribbon on its newest residence hall, Skyline, at a sun-splashed ceremony in the building’s courtyard on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Joined by Waltham Mayor Jeannette McCarthy, the Brandeis University Board of Trustees, students, faculty and staff, President Ron Liebowitz expressed his pride in formally opening Skyline.

“Skyline represents a bridge to the kind of rich undergraduate life, combining academics with social life and co-curricular activities, that we want for every student at Brandeis’ Liebowitz said. “This is a new beginning. I hope you can feel the energy here at Brandeis all around us. Skyline is just the icing on the cake, the most visible sign of progress.”

The new building gets its name from the panorama of Boston visible from many of its windows. It is fully accessible and contains an array of power sources that prioritize energy efficiency and sustainability including rooftop solar panels, complete LED lighting and 40 geothermal wells. It is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“In a lot of ways, Skyline reflects the Brandeis student experience,” said Student Union President Hannah Brown ’19 in a speech at the ceremony. “Skyline is new, socially conscious in its accessibility and sustainability, was constructed with the intent to build community and overlooks the Boston skyline.”

“This new and high-caliber residence hall has been constructed with the importance of student life and the Brandeis experience in mind,” she added.

McCarthy offered a proclamation to mark the occasion, as well as her well-wishes to the university and the inaugural group of 164 students currently living in Skyline.

“Skyline, like Brandeis, is at the top,” McCarthy said. “I am proud to be here to mark this occasion. I am also proud of how Brandeis has followed its social justice roots and soared to this high place.”

Following the ceremony, students, trustees, administrators, faculty and staff entered the Skyline commons for a buffet lunch featuring an eclectic mix of Kosher and non-Kosher meal options. Keeping in line with the building’s energy efficiency and sustainability, all food offerings came served on biodegradable plates using biodegradable utensils. Students played yard games in the courtyard and university staff conducted tours of the new building.

Skyline contains a mix of single and double rooms that house 164 students, primarily sophomores. The building features a large campus common space which includes a 100-person capacity function room, storage space, a kitchen area, a multi-purpose studio and A/V acoustic equipment capable of supporting performances and lectures.

The building also has study spaces, including three dedicated study rooms capable of fitting up to 10 students each, plus three individual reading nooks throughout the building. Additional social spaces include common area lounges on each floor and an outdoor courtyard equipped with furniture during warm weather months.

Brandeis broke ground on the $38 million project in spring 2017 and construction ran through this summer.