Tufts University has begun planning for construction on an undergraduate residence hall for juniors and seniors on the Medford/Somerville, Mass., campus.
The Tufts Daily says the seven-story building, expected to open in Fall 2025, will house 398 students in apartment-style units. The ground floor will have retail space.
The residence hall will be built across the street from the new rapid transit station that is part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Green Line Extension.
Tufts also is in discussion with the BlueBikes bike share system to sponsor two new stations within walking distance of the new residence hall, he said.
The university says the project is aligned with its commitment to decarbonize the campus and build energy-efficient buildings. This facility will be designed and constructed to a low energy use intensity target and will connect to Tufts’ high-efficiency central energy plant for utilities, says Ruth Bennett, senior director of capital programs.
The building also will be solar-ready—all of the conduits and meters required for a solar array will be installed during construction. Tufts will continue its work with solar developers to install solar panels on the roofs of as many buildings as possible, including the new residence hall.
The architect is William Rawn Associates, and the construction manager is DPR Construction.
The new residence hall grows out of a Tufts strategic plan to make significant capital improvements. In April 2021, the university completed a $250 million bond offering and earmarked a large portion of those funds for student housing.
The last time Tufts built a new on-campus residence hall was in 2006.
