Photograph: © Alan Karchmer

As the sixth building designed by the firm for Northeastern’s new West Campus, this 140,000 square foot mixed-use building completes the build-out of the 1.2 million square foot Master Plan.

The building reinforces the university’s academic mission and commitment to creating a new mixed-use sector of campus. Creating a vibrant, high-density environment that is active at all hours of the day, the building embodies the spirit of “living & learning.” It includes three significant components: Freshman Honors Housing, a Cultural Center, and an Academic Center.

The Honors Housing, with 230 beds in six-person apartments, celebrates academic excellence at the heart of this new mixed-use precinct. A two-story, four-part lounge (including Lounge, Study Room, Laundry, and Study Nook) encourages interaction among residents while simultaneously offering places for group/individual study. The Honors Program offices occupy a prominent ground-floor location at the front door to the Honors Housing.

The Cultural Center, located on the lower two floors, celebrates academic diversity and outreach. Together with the building’s residential and academic spaces, it makes the building a hub of student life.

Photograph: © Alan Karchmer

The Academic Center complements the Honors Housing, helping the university achieve its goal of strengthening the Honors community. It includes seven classrooms (300 seats total) and a 270-seat auditorium. The Academic Center anchors the lower three floors to the central pedestrian promenade of the West Campus.

Photograph: © Alan Karchmer

Project details

Architect: William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc.
Associate Firm: Stull and Lee, Inc. Architecture and Planning
Owner: Northeastern University
Location: Boston

Engineer, MEP/FP: Cosentini Associates, Inc.
Engineer, Structural: LeMessurier Consultants, Inc.
General Contractor: Turner Construction Company
Landscape Architect: Pressley Associates, Inc.
Lighting: Ripman Lighting Consultants
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David McFadden

Drawing upon original ideas and extensive personal and professional experience in the field, David McFadden crafted this article to explore the latest trends in architecture and building design. After working at various design practices—both full-time and freelance—and launching his design firm, David identified a significant gap in the industry. In 1984, he founded Consulting For Architects Inc. Careers, an expansive hub designed to align architects with hiring firms for mutual benefit. This platform enables architects to find impactful design work and frees hiring firms from the time-consuming cycles of recruitment and layoffs. He also owned and managed an award-winning Autodesk Training Center and dealership. David’s innovative approach to employer-employee relations has brought much-needed flexibility and adaptation to the industry. As the Founder and CEO, David has successfully guided his clients and staff through the challenges of four recessions—the early ’80s, early ’90s, early 2000s, the Great Recession, the pandemic, and the remnants of the current slowdown due to inflation and high-interest rates.

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