California Architectural firm Moore Ruble Yudell proposes transformative design for new Dartmouth buildings

Posted 10/10/01

Dartmouth College recently selected the award-winning Santa Monica, Calif., architectural firm Moore Ruble Yudell Architects and Planners to design a major academic and residential group of buildings. The proposed design constitutes a far-reaching concept for three important and distinctive buildings that will transform the northern part of Dartmouth's historic campus.

The firm will partner with Bruner/Cott & Associates Inc. of Boston, Mass., to complete the project, which is expected to cost about $75 million. The new buildings will provide enhanced academic space as well as residential, social and dining facilities for undergraduate and graduate students.

"The two most important aspects of our campus master planning vision are connection and preservation," said Dartmouth President James Wright. "The Moore Ruble Yudell team proposes a bold and exciting design," he added, "one that will transform the north part of the Dartmouth campus by seamlessly connecting it with other buildings and green spaces, preserving the design aspects of this historic place while embracing the needs of the future."

The group of buildings will be anchored by Kemeny Hall, the future home of the Mathematics Department. Named for Dartmouth's 13th President, computing pioneer John Kemeny, the building will occupy the area where the Kiewit Computation Center previously stood and will include cutting edge classroom and library space. Two residence halls and a comprehensive dining facility will also be built, offering students in their first and second years at Dartmouth state-of-the-art living space, combined with study spaces, lounges, social gathering areas and seminar rooms.

"The new buildings on the north end of campus will create even more opportunities for students to integrate their academic and residential lives at Dartmouth. We are excited to be working with the Moore Ruble Yudell/Bruner Cott team in bringing this project to fruition," said Reed Bergwall, Director of Facilities Planning at Dartmouth.

The proposed buildings represent significant progress in the implementation of Dartmouth's Student Life Initiative (SLI), announced by President Wright and the Dartmouth Trustees in 1999. The SLI aims to enhance the residential and social experience, strengthen community and provide the best possible learning environment for today's diverse students. Since its announcement, the College has significantly enhanced student social options, created new student advisor positions, and instituted major initiatives on issues of equity and diversity.

Founded in 1977, Moore Ruble Yudell has won numerous awards for its construction and renovation projects. The firm's experience with educational buildings includes work for the University of Washington-Tacoma; the University of California campuses at Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Berkeley; and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among others. The company emphasizes design that responds to the qualities of a specific site, including climate, historical context and client needs.

In-depth planning and design for the new Dartmouth complex will begin this summer. Construction is tentatively planned to begin in late 2002, with completion expected in 2004.