Construction Underway at Russo Hall, Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College, CUBE 3, PROCON, Northstar, and H+O Structural Engineering are amid construction on Russo Hall, a five-story residence hall at 25 West Wheelock Street in Hanover, New Hampshire. The project will add 285 apartment-style beds for juniors and seniors, advancing Dartmouth’s plan to create 1,000 new beds for students, faculty, and staff over the next decade.

Apartment-Style Living for Upperclassmen

Russo Hall will provide two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments, each with a full kitchen, living room, and storage space. The apartment-style layout offers students greater independence while maintaining close ties to campus life.

Located along the western edge of campus, the building links Dartmouth’s residential core with downtown Hanover, reinforcing the pedestrian-friendly corridor envisioned along West Wheelock Street.

Sustainability and Performance

Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, Russo Hall supports Dartmouth’s broader sustainability and carbon-reduction goals. The project incorporates high-performance materials and efficient systems, enhancing energy use and building longevity.

Construction began in August 2024 and is scheduled for completion in fall 2026.

Record Gift Launches Campus Housing Plan

The hall is named for alumni Thomas A. Russo ’77 and Gina T. Russo ’77, whose $30 million gift is the largest in Dartmouth’s history for undergraduate housing. Their donation helped launch the college’s $500 million housing investment plan, which expands residential capacity, modernizes facilities, and ensures all students have access to high-quality on-campus housing.

Strengthening Campus and Community

By adding new housing on campus, Dartmouth aims to reduce pressure on Hanover’s tight rental market and increase the share of students living on campus from 85 to 90 percent. Russo Hall also catalyzes future development along West Wheelock Street, transforming the area into a more active, pedestrian-oriented gateway between campus and town.

A Smarter Foundation for Higher Education

Russo Hall reflects a growing movement in higher education toward sustainable, apartment-style housing made to enhance student well-being and build community.

At H+O, we collaborate early with colleges and design partners to align structural choices with performance and cost realities, connecting institutional goals to efficient, predictable delivery.

If you’re planning a higher education housing project, contact us to build with data-driven precision, reduced risk, and clear alignment between structure, budget, and mission.