Located approximately 45 minutes south of the Twin Cities, Carleton College is a private liberal arts institution with a history spanning more than 160 years and a community of just over 2,000 undergraduate students. Watson Hall is a seven-story residence hall completed in 1966 and designed by renowned architect Minoru Yamasaki, giving it a distinctive place within the college’s architectural legacy.
More than a decade after its previous renovation, Watson Hall was ready for a refresh that would better support the needs and lifestyles of its students. While the building offered little architectural character to build inspire, it presented an opportunity to reimagine a series of dated and underutilized spaces as vibrant, welcoming destinations for community connection. The project focused on bringing new life to student lounges and gathering areas and refreshing corridors and public areas. The goal was to create environments that felt more residential, comfortable, and reflective of the energy of campus life.
On the dorm floors, opening the lounges to adjacent kitchenettes strengthened the connection between the spaces creating an opportunity for interaction that wasn’t present before. Strategic color changes and large graphic signage was added for identity in the elevator lobbies and corridors. Color schemes were simplified with a focus on brightness and contrast to combat the low ceilings.
The lower level presented a different design challenge. With no access to natural light, the design embraced the space’s inherent character rather than fighting against it. Inspired by the warmth and intimacy of an English pub, the lower level incorporates layered lighting, varied ceiling treatments, mirrors, panel details, faux brick, and rich accents of color to create depth, texture, and a welcoming atmosphere. The furniture creates different zones for students to be solo or in a group within the same space. We also opened the narrow, underused kitchen in this lounge for the same goals and effect as the upper levels.
Throughout Watson Hall, durable materials and finishes were selected to withstand the demands of student living while creating inviting spaces that encourage gathering, connection, and a stronger sense of home within one of Carleton College’s most iconic residence halls.
