Dartmouth College has announced plans to construct a new residence hall named Alumnae Hall, the fourth student housing project launched by the college since last summer. The dormitory, funded by 27 female graduates who each contributed $1 million, aims to recognize the contributions of Dartmouth alumnae and address ongoing housing demands on campus.
The $27 million building will be located at the eastern gateway to Hanover, prominently visible to those entering via Ledyard Bridge. At five stories tall, it will house 95 juniors and seniors in apartment-style residences and physically connect to another planned dormitory, Shonda Rhimes Hall. According to a college news release issued Tuesday, the name and structure of Alumnae Hall were proposed by four women serving on Dartmouth’s Board of Trustees.
“This hall is meant to be a visible statement of alumnae support,” Trustee Susan Huang said in the announcement.
Alumnae Hall is part of a broader initiative led by Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock to add 1,000 new beds for students, faculty, and staff across campus by 2033. The project responds to a housing shortage that has challenged the college’s ability to accommodate rising enrollment. Currently, Dartmouth offers approximately 3,900 on-campus beds for undergraduates, according to college spokesperson Amy Olson.
Site approval for Alumnae Hall was granted by the Hanover Planning Board in early October. The facility joins three other new West Wheelock Street residence projects: Russo Hall, scheduled to open in fall 2026; Shonda Rhimes Hall; and the Class of 1989 Hall, all planned to break ground in early 2026.
Construction of these four dormitories, along with other renovations, is expected to increase campus housing capacity by 783 beds. All the new buildings will include energy-efficient construction components, aligning with the college’s broader sustainability goals.
Dartmouth began admitting women in 1972, the last Ivy League institution to do so. Alumnae Hall marks the first student residence on campus named explicitly in recognition of female graduates. College officials describe the project not only as expanded infrastructure but also as a symbolic acknowledgement of alumnae engagement and philanthropy.
All of the dorms are slated for completion before the fall of 2028, marking a significant reshaping of the college’s residential landscape over the next several years.
