Harvard University’s undergraduate House system, established in 1930, is at the heart of the student experience and defines the university’s unique approach to student residential life. Each House is an independent living/learning facility that incorporates and structures many aspects of student life. The Houses foster communities of undergraduates supported by a cadre of faculty, scholars, and graduate students. Beginning in 2012, the University embarked on House Renewal, a multi-decade campaign to preserve the historic character and culture of the Houses while fully renewing House fabric, systems, and the residential experience to advance a twenty-first century approach to liberal arts education.
Under House Renewal, BBB led the comprehensive renovation of Winthrop House, which included a five-story, 41-bed addition; the renovation of Adams House, transforming residential, academic, and common spaces with contemporary design and state-of-the-art amenities while also providing full upgrades for code, accessibility, envelope, and MEP systems; the design of “Swing Space,” the residential and commons facilities temporarily used by each House under construction; and also provided interior design services for House buildings renovated by others, including Quincy House’s Stone Hall, Leverett House’s McKinlock Hall, and Dunster House.
