Bucknell University to Build New Residence Halls

Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa., recently announced that it will build four apartment-style residence halls over the next two years. The new housing facilities will replace an existing complex of residential units known as “The Mods,” which are more than 50 years old. A press release reports that each unit will have space for 70 beds for a total capacity of 280 students.

The new residence halls will stand three stories and feature the university’s traditional red-brick exterior. They will feature apartments of various sizes with shared kitchen and bath spaces, and each residence hall will have four student lounge areas and laundry facilities. The new dorms’ design will also include geothermal heating and cooling systems.

“These new, apartment-style residence halls should provide students a substantial upgrade from ‘The Mods,’ which are in need of replacement,” said Fritz Family Dean of Students Amy Badal. “Based on student feedback, we have made a greater commitment to outdoor recreation options for students on campus, and the amenities found at these new student housing units represent a model for what we envision across campus moving forward.”

Bucknell West Residence Hall
Rendering courtesy of Gensler

According to the news release, half of “The Mods” will be demolished after the end of the fall 2022 semester, and the first two residence halls are scheduled to open at the beginning of fall 2023. The other half of the old facility will be replaced with the second pair of new buildings in time for the fall 2024 semester. The university will make alternate on-campus housing arrangements for students displaced by the demolition and construction. They will also feature modular elements that will reportedly shorten the construction schedule by about a year.

The four new buildings will also form the borders of an outdoor recreation area scheduled to feature an amphitheater, fire pit, volleyball court and ping pong tables, grills and additional seating.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UNT Dallas Holds Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for $100M STEM Building

    The University of North Texas at Dallas in Dallas, Texas, recently celebrated the opening of its new, $100-million STEM Building, according to local news. The ceremony on Dec. 2 preceded the first day of classes in the facility on Jan. 12, 2026.

  • California K–12 District Opens New Athletic Complex, Gym

    The San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) in San Mateo, Calif., recently announced the completion of two new athletics facilities: a new gymnasium at Burlingame High School, and a new athletic training complex at San Mateo High School, according to a news release.

  • Malibu High School Campus Completes $102M Phase 1 of Construction

    Malibu High School in Malibu, Calif., recently announced that it has completed phase 1 of construction for its new campus, a news release reports. The first phase consisted of developing and modernizing the site of a former elementary school into a new, 70,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

Digital Edition