Hello, I Must Be Going

If engaging with peers sets students up for success, then residence life is where lifelong memories and friends are made. Marian Spencer Hall capitalizes on the University of Cincinnati’s unique setting and connects its resident community to the energy and joy of city living.

The dining room is the heart of this home away from home. Students are given plenty of choices: A quiet spot by the window at the counter to people watch, relaxed companionship at a communal table, or a booth with new friends. Flexible, communal areas on the living floors can accommodate groups of varying sizes and activity levels; residents congregating in shared kitchens enjoy a unique amenity—sweeping vistas of the UC campus itself.

By activating pedestrian pathways outside and one-of-a-kind views from within, Marian Spencer Hall celebrates urban campus living. Also home to student life services, the building acts as a hub for the residential section of campus by keeping students immersed in programming outside of the classroom.

The building combines the glass façade of the existing residence halls to the north and the brick exteriors of residence buildings to the south. The result is a building that both fits in with and stands apart from its neighbors. Glass in the common lounges brings in daylight and provides the best views in the house, drawing students out of their rooms and into these spaces where they can study or socialize.