While education is the main focus for students on campus, a residence hall with the comforts of home, such as inviting areas for dining, socializing, studying, and, of course, sleeping, is an essential part of a holistic curriculum. Originally envisioned as an envelope and MEP infrastructure upgrade project to help advance Tufts University’s goal of carbon neutrality, the project scope expanded to include improvements to the common areas of this first-year residence hall.

Through an established relationship with Tufts University and long-term experience with efficiently completing residence hall renovations within rapid timelines, the school welcomed our collaborative approach to Tilton Hall's upgrades and our recommended accelerated schedule for completion from two years to under a year. The work scope covered upgrades on both the building's interior and exterior, including the envelope, roof, amenity spaces, common areas, space utilization improvements, fixtures, furniture, and equipment and renovations to all restrooms, with the inclusion of an accessible bathroom on every floor.

The building's refresh is evident throughout the building. The redesign of the lounges with upgrades such as new furniture, flooring, carpeting, and ceilings creates a more inviting environment for working and socializing. The underutilized main lounge space was repurposed and subdivided to create a small-group study space, right-size the lounge itself, and introduce an opportunity for an additional shared workspace. The teal and yellow palette was inspired by the original teal accent tiles in the mosaics that cover every wall throughout the building. A service closet at the main entrance was demolished to create an open and welcoming entry vestibule, highlighted by a custom "Tilton Hall" mosaic.

New LED lighting throughout the facility, including the dorm rooms, provides energy-efficient savings. As part of our AIA 2030 Commitment (focusing on energy and greenhouse gas emission reductions in the built environment) our goal for all projects is to reduce the Lighting Power Density (LPD) by 25%. Tilton Hall achieved a 65% reduction with a final LPD of .35 watts/SF.

Tilton Hall’s warm and inclusive design enhances the campus experience for its residents and their visitors.