Big reveal: BW's North Hall makeover debuts

The new and improved residence hall offers welcoming spaces for living, connecting and learning together.

The first early arrivals are moving into a transformed North Hall on Baldwin Wallace University's North Quad.

Upgrades to the midcentury hall include improved creature comforts and community spaces, along with specialized student programming.

The $6.9 million project included the award of $1.8 million in state historic tax credits to modernize the building, which was constructed in 1957. The completed 65-unit residence hall restores 128 beds to BW's on-campus housing capacity and is part of a long-term plan to modernize older residence halls.

Comfort, collaboration, connection

The completed project features:

• The addition of an elevator to improve accessibility
• Individually controlled air conditioning
• Private shower, sink and toilet areas in bathrooms
• A large gathering space on the first floor with a new kitchen, fireplace and two large TVs for gaming
• A new multi-purpose room that can be used for wellness, classroom space and hall programming
• Three collaborative study rooms

"We also spread smaller gathering spaces throughout the building for students to socialize and connect," adds Bob Beyer, senior director of BW Residence Life and Housing. "The overall design reflects our brown and gold pride, including a large interior feature wall with a large BW logo, perfect for photo opportunities."

STEM living-learning community

Beyond the facility improvements, a number of rooms in North were set aside and will be occupied by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) majors, given its proximity to BW's Knowlton Center, which is home to BW STEM programs.

The grouping will allow BW to facilitate a STEM living-learning community, tying together students with similar academic and special interests to support each other and enrich the academic experience.