The exterior of Shanley Hall is designed using materials and forms compatible with the context of the surrounding campus buildings. The building’s siting reinforces the identity of the Benzie Way Gate and the pedestrian walkway.
Overcoming Challenges of Cost and Timeline
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To offset COVID-19 related impacts of price volatility, supply chain availability, transportation costs and labor shortages , various tactics were used to stay within the tight timeline and control subcontractor projected contingencies.
The College proactively procured materials, products, and equipment (including air handler units and switchgear) with long lead times, for assignment to the CM, as opposed to making phased purchases through the subcontractor. This strategic approach mitigated delays during construction, a frequent issue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
SMMA worked attentively with the Owner, engineers and CM while Shanley was under construction, making changes to materials, products and systems based on performance and availability to control costs and keep construction on schedule, considering labor shortages, installation, and material availability. Each decision was made without deterring from the original design intent.
The Owner, Architect, and CM evaluated all sub-contractor bids to sort out COVID contingency costs related to price increases, delivery and schedule delays, and labor. The College agreed to transfer the COVID contingency costs to the Owner’s contingency, thereby reducing the construction bids. Due to Providence College’s trust in the project team, costs were further reduced eliminating inflated contingency costs
This history, along with SMMA’s experience with the Construction Manager, Dimeo Construction, enabled the team to complete the new residence hall on schedule for the Fall semester.
The structures are varying heights joined by a glass connection that houses common lounges. Windows in the lounges enable an unobstructed view through the building from the outside, while flooding the interior with natural light and offering expansive campus views to those inside.
The two brick building masses slip by each other and are connected by the transparent common floor lounges.
The glass enclosed common lounges span between the two building wings.
Quiet alcoves at each end of the corridors provide space to focus, read, or simply relax while overlooking campus.
The glass alcoves give the illusion that they are floating outside the masonry structure. At night, these unique spaces light up, giving them a lantern-like appearance.
The interior design gives a subtle nod to nature.
The calming, inclusive theme presents itself throughout the building, from the lower lobby graphic of water ripples to more understated details such as the patterned tile flooring and the soft edges of furniture.
Vibrant colors contrast against the neutral palette. Rich yellows, blues, greens, and purples bring each area to life and help students with wayfinding around the building.
Shanley Hall was designed to cater to community, wellness, and lifestyle of its users.
Numerous common areas include lounges for socializing and studying, a kitchen for individual meal prep, versatile dining areas, small and large focus spaces, and a game room.
Shanley Hall introduces the campus to the semi-suite design.
Semi-suites include two bedrooms with a shared bathroom, bridging the gap between a traditional dormitory room (with larger shared bathrooms for numerous students) and a suite (which includes a living room and kitchenette).
This also helped establish a hierarchy of housing options—another programmatic goal—as students progressed through their academic years from traditional dormitory rooms to semi-suites to suites.
The lower entry is accessible from the campus walkway connecting Benzie Way with the Cultural Quad and McCarthy Hall.
The terraces are for residents’ use or scheduled campus activities.
The building’s siting and difference in topography permit two natural exterior terraces and bioswales, allowing student entry on level one and level two (off Benzie Way).
Looking across St. Dominic’s Plaza, students can enjoy a view of Providence’s skyline.
Shanley Hall’s siting, footprint, and landscape complement its surroundings, framing the nearby Benzie Way campus entrance and reinforcing pathways to a ‘Cultural Quad’.
Results from the 2019 Residential Assessment Study
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The residential assessment study enabled the college to evaluate existing on-campus and off-campus options, facilitating the selection of an optimal plan forward. Providence College prioritized the provision of on-campus residence halls to enhance the student experience and support positive relations with the surrounding neighborhood.
This assessment revealed various findings including:
- A new dedicated 300-350 Bed Sophomore residence hall was needed
- There was an inequity in Sophomore housing accommodations.
- A dedicated sophomore residence hall was required. Many Sophomores were being housed in Freshmen or Junior / Senior facilities, which was not appropriate for Sophomore student development.
- Lack of appropriate shared amenities was found in most residence halls.
- The new beds will be in a “Semi-Suite” configuration with two double rooms sharing one shower, one bathroom, and a common vestibule.
- The need to retain relationships with owners of off-campus Senior housing was required to retain flexibility for changing enrollment
Not long after the new sophomore residence hall was underway, Providence College introduced their new School of Nursing and Health Sciences program. This resulted in a reevaluation of Shanley Hall's bed count and room utilization. SMMA collaborated closely with the college to swiftly reassess enrollment projections, enabling the project to proceed while aligning the total bed count with the future needs of this exciting new program.
