Cleveland, Ohio
Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) opened two new residence halls within its South Residential Village in August 2024. The Mary Chilton Noyes House is named after the first woman to graduate from the university with a graduate degree, and the John Sykes Fayette House is named after the first African American student known to graduate from the university. These new halls have allowed the campus to expand its housing for second-year students. “Noyes and Fayette give us the opportunity to fully realize a dedicated second-year community, which is an important milestone for our students as they continue their CWRU journey,” says Vern Rogers, executive director of university housing. “These halls also serve as a new hub on the south side of campus, bridging two historic neighborhoods and infusing that part of campus with fresh energy and connection.”
Noyes House has four residential floors and houses 170 students, while Fayette House has six residential floors and houses 428 students. Both offer single and double room options. Students living in singles have an ensuite bathroom, while those living in doubles have shared bathroom space on their floor that is designed with a private shower and toilet space. Each house has community space, two music rooms, and a main building lounge with a full kitchen on the first floor. Both offer laundry facilities and kitchenettes, with lounges on every floor. There is an on-site health clinic in Noyes House, and outside, the houses share a large lawn space that includes a wellness garden and recreation area.
Rogers is excited about how the new living spaces connect to the university’s mission and the impact that they will have on students. “My favorite part of the new halls is how they connect to the neighborhood while giving students a wide range of spaces that reflect our mission. From cozy study nooks to vibrant common areas, they make it possible for students to build community, support one another, and thrive both socially and academically.”
Toward the end of the 2024-25 academic year, students in both houses had the opportunity to work with CWRU’s Putnam Art Committee to create custom wallpaper and a time-capsule mural that will be used to decorate the new residence halls. Artist Christine Mauersberger worked with students during the total eclipse in April to make cyanotype prints of campus plants. The prints were then pieced together like a quilt and reprinted on wallpaper. Artist Amber Kempthorn worked with students who offered everyday items to be used in a time-capsule mural.
— Camille Perlman
Spotlight is your chance to show off recent construction or renovation projects. Member institutions and architects are encouraged to share details about hall features, related programs, and how they connect to the overall housing mission as well as photographs of the completed building. Share your success stories.