Mackey Mitchell Architects, in collaboration with McMillan Pazdan Smith, is designing a comprehensive Freshman experience for Furman University. The project envisions a vibrant Freshman village that is in line with Furman's Georgian architectural style and aims to create an inclusive and equitable home for first-year students. The project includes the renovation of two existing residence halls and the construction of a new one, providing double-occupancy rooms and community baths for 200 students and 10 staff members in total. Each hall will feature a community lounge and kitchen, along with pod lounges, flexible multipurpose rooms, group study areas, and a makerspace. Additionally, to support holistic student development, the Center for Inclusive Communities will be relocated to the Freshman Village.
Shape
This project is being phased in a manner that allows for swing space while beds are temporarily offline during construction and renovation. The New Residence Hall will be the first to be completed, followed by the demolition of the current Blackwell Hall, paving the way for a new quad that will be shared by all three buildings. The remaining stages will involve the renovation of McGlothlin & Poteat Halls and Manly & Geer Halls, completing the Village with a consistent "wow" factor across all three halls.
Inspire
The relationship between the buildings and the landscape is of equal importance to the programs housed within. The site itself is stunning, surrounded by mature trees and a pristine lake that deserves to be celebrated. On the north side, there is a large patio and grouped seating that offers beautiful views of the lake framed by trees. The addition of new pedestrian pathways provides accessible and direct connections between the residential buildings and the campus core. A new lower quad has been created to link McGlothlin & Poteat and Manly & Geer to the New Residence Hall, complete with an accessible route that spans a significant grade change, a natural amphitheater, and an outdoor living room. This quad is located at the center of the three halls and has been designed to be the heart and social hub of Freshman Village.
By reimagining the first-year residence hall from the ground up, we are creating a vibrant student hub, one with new personal and social spaces for students to gather and connect for years to come, setting their trajectory for success at Furman and beyond.
