Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Purdue Dedicates $90 Million Academic Residential College

  • 09/01/16

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – Purdue University dedicated the $90 million Honors College and Residences, on September 9 — the first of its kind in Indiana and among the nation’s most advanced academic residential colleges.

The design for the 324,000-square-foot facility is the result of research about how high-ability students learn. It houses more than 800 students and is also home to the college itself, serving as a centralized hub for its administration and academic programs. Scholars are just steps away from their professors, advisers, the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and agriculture, math) research lab and state-of-the-art “active learning” studios. They study in shared spaces aimed at fostering interaction and collaboration.

“The Honors College and Residences completely intertwines a student's residential and academic experience, so they stay engaged,” says Rhonda Phillips, Honors College dean. “The learning and leadership opportunities for students will be second to none. We are forging the future of honors education.” 

“The Honors College and Residences will create learning and leadership opportunities for students ready to commit to its rigor and academic challenge,” Purdue President Mitch Daniels says. “This facility embodies Purdue's commitment to academic excellence, collaborative spirit and intellectual growth.”

Construction for the Honors College and Residences began in January 2015. The building utilized locally sourced materials and is seeking LEED certification.

Notable spaces include the Innovation Forum, with an interactive, programmable floor; the Computer Co-Lab, with bicycles that power laptops; an edible garden and the “crown jewel” of the Honors College, the Honors Hall.  With its massive windows, a coffered ceiling, stage and space for nearly 300 people, the hall will serve as a central gathering point for programs and college functions.

About Purdue Honors College 
The Honors College, which admitted its inaugural class in 2013, brings together students from all areas of study across campus, along with faculty, staff, alumni and organizational partners, in pursuit of academic excellence. Fostering transformative scholar and leadership development, the college is a community of scholars who learn together and explore ways to connect to Purdue and to the world beyond through engaged service.

Featured

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Universities Continue to Launch Multimillion-Dollar Campus Transformations

    What makes the current wave of campus development especially noteworthy is its emphasis on multi-use functionality and community integration. Institutions are no longer investing solely in academic or athletic facilities in isolation. Instead, they are creating destinations that blend recreation, health, housing, and event-driven economic activity.

  • College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

    College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.