Redevelopment of Norris University Center’s East Lawn to begin this summer
April 5, 2024
EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University announced plans for its first newly constructed residence hall on the Evanston campus since 2002, and the University has selected an architect. Northwestern is partnering with William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc., on a newly designed, state-of-the-art residence hall. The design process will begin immediately for the building, which is the first step of the 10-year housing master plan for Northwestern.
The new building will be located at 560 Lincoln St., at the north end of the University campus, near Patten Gymnasium and the site for the Lakeside Athletic Facility. William Rawn Associates, Architects, will be working in association with the Chicago-based firm of Nagle Hartray Architecture on this project.
William Rawn Associates, Architects, was selected from a competitive bidding pool, which was narrowed down to five finalist firms. “We had many great architects bid, but the chance to work with William Rawn Associates is outstanding for Northwestern,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin. “I know that our team will create a dynamic, engaging space for our on-campus housing community that creates a positive Northwestern experience.”
“I am thrilled that we will be working with William Rawn Associates,” said Paul Riel, executive director of residential services. “They have a reputation for designing signature student housing projects, and I am confident that together we can create a dynamic project that will serve our students and complement the Northwestern campus architecture.”
Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, assistant vice president for student auxiliary services, said, “The expertise a partner like William Rawn Associates brings will assist Northwestern University in designing a home for our students that will engage our campus in transformative ways.”
Northwestern President Morton Schapiro observed: \"This new residence hall will increase the housing options for our students and create a greater sense of community on the Northwestern campus. We are eager to get this project underway and work with our new architects on a distinctive design for the building.\"
In a statement issued by Doug Johnston, FAIA, principal with William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc., he said, “William Rawn Associates, Architects, is honored to work with Northwestern University as together we design and build the new residence hall at 560 Lincoln St. The opportunity to create a place of memorable community for Northwestern undergraduates that is also an important gateway for the North Campus, and an important edge to the surrounding community, is a very special challenge.”
William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc., was established in 1983 in Boston. Well known for its cultural buildings, university buildings and civic buildings around the country, the firm has won nine American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Honor Awards in the last 14 years. Major projects include Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, the Williams College ‘62 Center for Theatre and Dance and the Commonwealth Honors College at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The firm has worked at many of the nation’s top universities and colleges, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Duke, University of Virginia, Johns Hopkins, Washington University in St. Louis, along with Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, Bowdoin and Grinnell colleges. As a national leader in campus housing, the firm has designed and built over 6,500 beds in college and university residence halls.
