Every year for more than 70 years, Middlebury students have moved into Battell Hall and called it home. It’s thought of fondly by alumni despite its shortcomings, including its damp, dark hallways, limited common areas, and outdated safety, accessibility, and energy standards. It’s currently housing approximately 40 percent of Middlebury’s first-year students.

With Battell at the end of its useful life, Middlebury is capitalizing on the opportunity to build a new first-year residence hall that will align our residential experience with the College’s mission to prepare all students to lead engaged, consequential, and creative lives.

Philadelphia-based Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA), known for designing campus environments that actively encourage students’ intellectual and personal growth and reinforce an institution’s mission, pedagogy, and approach to student life, was chosen to design the new hall. The College broke ground on the new building in June 2023, and construction is expected to be completed in spring 2025. The currently unnamed residence hall will be built along the northern edge of “Battell Beach,” a popular green space on the northwestern portion of campus.

The 87,000-square-foot hall will house up to 298 first-year students, living almost exclusively in doubles and in close proximity to other students in their first-year seminar, as well as to residential advisors. Instead of Battell’s dark passages, the new residence will feature ample windows that bring in natural light and numerous spaces for collaboration. It will also centralize access to residential programming such as the first-year seminars and the new cocurricular Compass mentorship and life-skills program.

Designed to meet LEED Gold certifications and incorporating universal design, the new hall will help Middlebury meet its Energy2028 goal to convert to 100 percent renewable energy and will be among the most accessible on campus. 

“What I’m really excited about is that it will truly be a residence hall for the 21st-century student,” Smita Ruzicka, vice president for student affairs, said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

President Laurie Patton agreed, remarking, “I’m delighted to be able to start the work of making another meaningful place at Middlebury and continuing to put the student experience at the front and center of all we do.”