Dartmouth College
dartmouth hall
Hanover, New Hampshire
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Type: Study & Renovation
Size: 40,000 SF
Status: Completed, 2022
Photography: Anton Grassl, Andrew Shea, Katie Lenhart, Robert Gill
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2023 Monahan Preservation Honor Award, AIA New Hampshire
A Hall for All, Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, July-August 2021FORUM, AIA New Hampshire Fall 2023
Samson Occom, a Mohegan preacher, argued that native peoples could accept new practices and remain themselves, citing the parable of the oft-repaired knife which remained the same knife no matter how many new blades or handles it had. This metaphor speaks to the fundamental challenge of this project: how can a beloved place remain “the same” even as it undergoes change?
As the original building, Dartmouth Hall stands sentinel to the evolution of the institution. It suffered two fires and major reconstructions and recently underwent its largest renovation. It holds faculty offices for language departments, classrooms and the new home of the Center for Humanities. While the exterior was faithfully restored, the interior saw a total transformation that’s fresh yet recognizably Dartmouth Hall. A new front terrace, elevator, and open stairs make the building accessible and equitable as never before.
Galleries were introduced to highlight the histories of Dartmouth Hall and Dartmouth Women. Heritage is traced from Occom to today’s students, featuring milestones such as the literal rebuilding of the Hall and the figurative rebuilding of the traditionally all-male institution as it welcomed women. The exhibits include other less celebrated historical narratives and reveal some hard truths.
In an immense show of pride and power, a women-led fundraising campaign fully supported the renovations. Over 3,000 alumnae came forth to honor what the building meant to them as well as prepare it for the next generation. Dartmouth Hall is everlasting. With its new iteration, tradition is honored while the future is infused and it finally embodies its diverse histories as it serves generations to come.
transformation of dartmouth 105
designLAB’s renovation of Dartmouth Hall sought to juxtapose the faithful restoration of the building’s exterior with a complete transformation of Dartmouth 105 - the flagship classroom in Dartmouth’s most historic and iconic building. The space has been home to some of the school's most significant speakers and events over the course of its history, including Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Maya Angelou, and Robert Frost.
During this time, it has also seen multiple configurations and architectural styles. Originally the chapel, it was centrally located and spanned the full width of the building’s footprint, complete with pews and organ. In the 1880s, its orientation was flipped and rearranged. Following the second fire and reconstruction of the building at the turn of the 20th century, 105 was rebuilt as a double-height lecture hall. In the 1970’s, the upper level balconies in the lecture hall were infilled to create more offices creating yet another iteration of the space over the building’s 200 year history.
The new 105 is a contemporary interpretation of the previous iterations, which includes tiered seating, maple wood slat wall and ceiling panels, acoustic tuning, and audiovisual infrastructure to support guest speakers or musical performances. The transformation of 105’s space into 21st century learning environment demonstrates Dartmouth College’s commitment to the most contemporary approaches to academic study.
