Architectural History of CSU's Residence Halls
About the Project
This project examines the architectural and planning history of mid-century modern residence halls at Colorado State University, with a focus on post–World War II student housing constructed during the campus’s mid-20th-century expansion. Long intrigued by these buildings—and having lived in a residence hall built in 1958—I sought to understand the design principles and institutional priorities that shaped their development.
Conducted during my senior year as part of a heritage resource–focused research project and an internship within the university archives, the study involved extensive investigation of undigitized archival collections and local historical repositories. Research materials included original drawings, planning documents, photographs, and administrative records that contextualized the residence halls within broader trends in modern campus design.
The findings were synthesized into a written and designed booklet documenting the architectural significance of these postwar dormitories. The project positions the buildings as early examples of thoughtfully planned, modern student housing, highlighting their spatial organization, material strategies, and role in shaping contemporary campus life. The booklet serves as both a historical record and an interpretive resource, translating archival research into an accessible design-focused publication.
