New Residence Hall and Welcome Center

Macalester College will open a new residence hall in 2027 at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Macalester Street. The five-story building provides 224 beds of student housing with a ground-floor Welcome Center below. President Suzanne M. Rivera describes the project as a new front door to our college, designed to create an identifiable first impression while contributing to the vibrancy of Grand Avenue. The building anchors the northwest corner of campus, serving current students, prospective students, and the broader Macalester community in one integrated space. The project represents a key aspect of the college’s comprehensive campus plan and is part of the Imagine, Macalester strategic plan.

Pod-Style Living for Upper-Year Students

The residence hall occupies the upper four floors and provides pod units designed primarily for juniors and seniors. Each pod features mostly single bedrooms for privacy, shared common lounge areas for connection, full kitchens for cooking flexibility, and private-stall bathrooms and showers within each pod. The pod-style living design blends independence and community, preparing students for post-college life while maintaining support.

Students in the new residence hall will not be required to have a meal plan but will have access to flexible dining options. The community kitchens enhance students’ ability to cook their own meals individually and as a community.

The Residential Life program includes Resident Assistants, on-call trained professional staff, and a Residence Hall Director in the new building to provide 24/7 support, community building, emergency response, and assistance with student concerns.

Three-Year Residency Requirement

Starting with the Fall 2026 incoming class, Macalester College will require students to live on campus for their first three years (six semesters). This guarantees students housing for those three years and aims to support belonging, academic success, and deeper engagement in the residential community. The new residence hall will significantly expand housing capacity and enhance community spaces, ensuring sufficient on-campus housing for all students under the new requirement.

• The requirement aligns with the College’s comprehensive campus plan and strategic goals for student success. Living on campus provides stronger peer connections, access to 24/7 security staff, convenient access to campus resources, and a more supportive residential learning environment. These resources offer coordinated emergency response, assistance with roommate issues and general student concerns, community building and wellness support, and ensure students are never alone in managing challenges.
• The College housing contract aligns with the academic calendar, eliminating rent during breaks or study-away semesters. Students avoid the hassle of year-round leases or the need to find subletters when studying away or abroad. Students who study away for one semester will have one of the required six semesters waived.
• The enhanced residential curriculum intentionally prepares students for independent living in their senior year and beyond. Students learn to submit and follow up on maintenance and facilities requests, manage shared living agreements with pod mates, and develop skills such as budgeting, cooking, time management, and conflict resolution. Workshops and programming focus on financial literacy, community responsibility, and life after Macalester.
• Housing costs for the new facility will align with the current pricing structure. The College provides tools for transparently comparing on-campus and off-campus costs. Financial aid will continue to be applied toward on-campus housing costs for eligible students. Living on campus remains a competitive and convenient option when factoring in rent, utilities, internet, and commuting costs.
• Current processes for exception requests will continue. Students with documented needs (such as family or medical needs) or those who are granted an exemption from the three-year requirement will follow existing college policies.
• If a student takes a leave of absence, that semester does not count toward the six-semester requirement. Students must complete six academic semesters while living in housing.

Welcome Center and Community Space

The ground floor brings together Admissions and community gathering spaces. The Admissions Welcome Center occupies the western side. A coffee shop and cafe open to the public provides a meeting spot for visitors and students. A multipurpose living room space hosts events and informal gatherings. You’ll also find a campus store and a welcome plaza at the entrance.

Sustainability Leadership

The building represents a significant step toward carbon neutrality for campus. A geothermal plant will serve the building. Rooftop solar panels generate clean energy. Hybrid CLT and stick frame construction reduces embodied carbon. The high-performance building envelope improves efficiency. Native plantings and a roof terrace with green roof area enhance the landscape while reducing stormwater runoff.

Construction takes 16 months, with completion expected in 2027. The project provides memorable architecture while achieving high sustainability goals to move the campus closer to carbon neutrality.