Brandeis breaks ground on new 631-bed residence hall
Set to open in 2027, the neighborhood-style structure is designed to foster connections
By Steve Foskett
November 3, 2025
Against a backdrop of twin elevator shafts draped in a “Brandeis Builds” banner, administration and students held a ceremonial groundbreaking Friday afternoon to commemorate construction of a new state-of-the-art residence hall.
When completed in spring 2027, the five-story, 631-bed complex will have a village-like feel, with residences clustered in “neighborhoods” of several dozen students. Shared spaces incorporated into the design will encourage connection and creativity.
Joined by officials from several firms working to build the structure, including the Vertex Companies, William Rawn Associates and Dimeo Construction, university officials scooped their small piles of ceremonial dirt to mark the project’s progress. The new residence hall represents one of the most significant investments in campus infrastructure in Brandeis’ history.
“We are moving forward,” said President Arthur Levine. “Brandeis is about to enter a golden age, and this is the first manifestation of that.”
Located on the university’s lower campus, the new building is the first phase of a three-pronged housing initiative aimed at enhancing student life through new construction, major renovations and the strategic removal of aging facilities.
When completed, the hall will feature:
- Air conditioning and full accessibility
- 14 community kitchens and lounges
- All restrooms are gender-neutral and single-occupancy
- An exercise room for students
- A multi-purpose social space for the campus community that will accommodate up to 150 people
- Outdoor bike shelters and sustainably landscaped terraces and gardens
It will be a model of sustainable construction, targeting Passive House standards and incorporating all-electric systems, triple-glazed windows and a rooftop prepared for solar panels.
