Newest Residence Hall Wins
National Design Award

Claremont Hall, CMC's newest residence hall, has won a 2009 residential architect Design Award (RADA), one of only three national awards granted in the campus housing ("Merit") category.
The 10th annual Design Awards received more than 1,100 entries in 16 categories. Just 44 projects were singled out for accolades, making RADA the most competitive residential architecture awards program in the country.
Claremont Hall's building wings frame a series of courtyards that serve as social spaces; a large folding glass wall opens the main double-story living room directly onto a courtyard, doubling its usable size for larger student meetings. Sleeping rooms are arranged as social units of 10 to 12 students housed in a variety of room types. Each is organized around a shared "living room" and corresponding balcony.
Demonstrating the College's commitment to the environment, the residence hall was charged with becoming the first LEED-certified building on campus, and currently is in process for a LEED Silver certification.
"I think Claremont Hall has become a vibrant part of the campus fabric, and is an excellent example of how a new building, using color and texture, can revitalize the campus precinct it inhabits," says Frank Perri, director of construction at CMC.
"I also believe that the architectural firm, CO Architects, did a fine job of blending the modern look of the building (glass, light fixtures, metal panels, stucco, and wood) with some of the traditional landscape & architectural elements native to the college, such as the low rock walls and oak trees."
Scott Kelsey, managing principal of CO Architects, says Claremont Hall represents a new standard for sustainable architecture and design on campus.
"It's the first project on campus to explore using new materials, design, and construction methods," he says. "The living spaces are really discrete social units with ample communal areas that incorporate AVIT wireless, laundry rooms, etc."
Kelsey says his firm had a strong desire to integrate the interior and exteriorfor example, external balconies off rooms hung over a spacious courtyard that could be accessed via rollup doors.
"We wanted to take advantage of the wonderful climate of Claremont and integrate the landscape into the building design," he says.
A resident assistant at Claremont Hall says students appreciate the building's high ceilings, versatile furniture, wide corridors, comfortable lounge space, flattering bathroom lighting, and studious ambiance.
"The terraces are great for little shindigs in the evening, and for sunning or sitting in the shade, depending on the time of day," she said. She also said students from other dorms are known to come by to use the laundry room, or use the terraces and lounges for homework and socializing.
The RADA jury comprised six distinguished architects, including Gary L. Brewer, AIA, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, New York City; William Kreager, FAIA, Mithun, Seattle; Mell Lawrence, FAIA, Mell Lawrence Architects, Austin, Texas; Mark McInturff, FAIA, McInturff Architects, Bethesda, Md.; John Sheehan, AIA, Studio E Architects, San Diego; and John Vetter, AIA, Vetter Denk Architects, Milwaukee.
In all, the panel bestowed 33 Merit awards, 10 Grand awards, and one Project of the Year award.