Macalester College President Suzanne Rivera, Associate Vice President of Facilities Nathan Lief, High Winds Fund Director Deanna L. Seppanen, and other college administrators gathered on Thursday, May 14, for a Foundation Dedication ceremony at the construction site of Macalester’s new residence hall and welcome center.
“Thursday’s ceremony marks a significant step as we work toward the goals established in our strategic plan, Imagine, Macalester, almost four years ago,” said Macalester College President Suzanne Rivera. “This new residence hall and welcome center represents a commitment to current and prospective students, as well as to the broader Macalester community and our neighbors throughout Saint Paul.”
The five-story building will help to accomplish a number of goals, including expanding on-campus living capacity for upper-year students, creating a new welcoming space for prospective students and alumni, and expanding the college’s presence in its broader community.
The new residence hall, designed primarily for upper-year students as part of the college’s new three-year residency requirement, will showcase Macalester’s leadership in sustainability. Supporting the college’s decarbonization goals, the building will be powered by geothermal and solar energy and constructed using a hybrid cross-laminated timber and stick-frame design to reduce embodied carbon.
Significant green space with native plants around the building, as well as a green roof terrace, will provide meeting spaces rooted in nature.
“This building will set Macalester on a course to make significant progress toward its decarbonization goals,” said Lief. “The geothermal plant being constructed to heat and cool the building is designed for future expansion, allowing additional buildings north of Grand Avenue to connect to the system and transition away from the campus’s natural gas–powered boiler network.This shift will lower heating and cooling costs while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.”
The new building will also house the college’s new welcome center, bringing together the Admissions Office and gathering spaces for students, staff, alumni, and the broader community Macalester is proud to be a neighbor in. A coffee shop and cafe open to the public will share space with the welcome center, adding new energy and vibrancy to Grand Avenue.
The wait will not be long, as construction is expected to be completed in 2027. Macalester’s new residence and hall and welcome center will serve as a vibrant gathering place for students, staff, alumni, and neighbors from across Saint Paul.
