Rhode Island School of Design – Quad Block Master Plan

This multiphased project focused on enhancing the freshman residence hall experience across several buildings. It began with the construction of North Hall, a new 156-bed, 43,500 sf residence hall built on Nickerson Green. North Hall was designed as swing space to facilitate the subsequent phased gut renovations of Nickerson and Homer Halls. A key feature of North Hall is its extensive use of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), making it one of the first residence halls in the region to incorporate this sustainable building material. The CLT panels provide both structural support and aesthetic appeal, contributing to the building’s energy efficiency and carbon reduction.

The renovation of Nickerson and Homer Halls was carefully phased to maintain student housing capacity during construction. Both halls underwent significant upgrades, including the modernization of dormitory spaces and the addition of enhanced common areas on the lower levels. The project was delivered using an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) method, leveraging Lean Construction principles to streamline workflows and minimize disruption while ensuring the school could maintain its enrollment figures.