Brandeis Magazine

Brandeis is building a new residence hall to replace the student housing that used to be part of the Usen Castle complex. The new building — with 164 beds, it will offer on-campus housing for about 60 more students than the previous building accommodated — is scheduled to open before the start of the 2018 fall semester.

Designed by William Rawn Associates, the residence hall will offer full accessibility and will include needed study spaces, a large kitchen and a common room that seats up to 100 for student gatherings or performances. Solar panels, and a geothermal heating and cooling system will make it the greenest and most sustainable building on campus.

Brandeis plans to retain Towers A and B, the most visible and iconic sections of the Castle site, for now as it evaluates opportunities for fund raising and restoration. Cholmondeley’s Coffee House, located in Tower B, will be renovated with student input this summer.