Case Western Reserve University
South Residential Village
Project
South Residential Village
Client
Case Western Reserve University
Location
Cleveland, OH
Completion
2024
Size
190,000 GSF
Certification
LEED Gold
Category
Residence Halls
Partner Firm
VAA Architects
As with many universities, Case Western Reserve University seeks to support students through the “Sophomore Slump.” It is in the second year that some students struggle to find their place academically and socially. To combat the “Slump”, the University decided to create the South Residential Village (SRV). This new campus, home to Noyes and Fayette Halls, is a 600 bed center of gravity for second year students who are currently located in multiple sites across the urban campus. The team developed a program and design to support community building at multiple scales—the pod, the floor, the building, and the district.
The South Residential Village is located in Little Italy, a historic neighborhood in Cleveland. The building scale and detailing responds to the residential scale of the district's houses and restaurants. Front porches and brick reinforce the architectural vocabulary.
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.
Vern Rogers, Executive Director of University Housing
Design Plans
Street Level Plan
Courtyard Level Plan
Typical Level Plan
A key factor in this creation was the sense of community that WRA fostered with CWRU—they took the time to truly listen and understand us, better than we understood ourselves at points. What was built was an expression of this sense of community and it can be seen in how naturally the students moved in and made it their own—it brims with life, activity, and a true sense of home.
Stephen (Skip) Begley, former Director of Residence Life
The SRV provides amenities—a multi-purpose room to host campus wide events, a wellness center and several programmed exterior spaces—to create communities at a variety of scales from pod to the district.
Flexible Multi-Purpose Room
The second years host and lead student activities like service groups, study sessions, student government, trainings, etc. in this room.
The Multi-Purpose Room can be divided into two spaces to accommodate multiple events.
The ResLife and StudentLife Staff use the multipurpose room for RA trainings, Community events, Wellness programming, and movie nights.
As a resident of Little Italy, I’ve heard nothing but positive comments from both my neighbors and our students about how the project has enriched the Little Italy neighborhood experience. The use of quality materials and attention to scale shows a commitment and permanence that is very much appreciated by the larger Cleveland community.
Dean Tufts, Vice President for Campus Planning & Facilities Management
Awards + Recognition
ACUHO Conference Session "Demo or Reno, Investment Strategies in University Housing" (2024)
Consultants
Structural Engineer | LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.
Mechanical / Electrical Engineer | Karpinski Engineering
Civil Engineer | Osborn Engineering
Landscape Architect | Stephen Stimson Associates
Lighting Consultant | Francis Krahe & Associates, Inc.
Acoustical Engineer | Acentech
Sustainable Design Consultant | The Green Engineer
Specifications | Kalin Associates
Cost Consultant | Dharam Consulting
Code Consultant | Hastings Consulting
Interior Designer | MoharDesign, LLC.