Sawyer Hopkins Residence Hall + Wellness Center

Cushing Academy has reimagined student living with the new Sawyer-Hopkins Hall and Wellness Center, replacing an aging residence hall with a modern, thoughtfully designed facility. This three-story building addresses the school’s housing needs by providing more double rooms and centrally located faculty apartments, fostering a stronger sense of community.

Student rooms and laundry facilities are distributed across the north and south wings, with small common rooms at the ends featuring floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking campus. Vestibules for academic advising are seamlessly integrated, making it easier for faculty to support students. Large first-floor common areas with kitchenettes encourage informal gatherings and meetings. The two- and three-bedroom faculty apartments have private entrances and dedicated offices connected to student living spaces for one-on-one advising.
The design strengthens the architectural connection between Cushing Academy’s residential and academic buildings. Traditional red brick masonry and sloped standing seam roofs maintain campus character, while the building’s placement on a sloping site allows for multiple access points via sidewalks and ramps.

At the lowest grade, the new Wellness Center – twice the size of its predecessor – features a dedicated entrance and a distinct dark gray masonry exterior, contrasting with the red brick of the residence hall. The expanded facility offers counseling services, overnight rooms, and exam spaces for visiting doctors, ensuring comprehensive student wellness support.

The building incorporates a high-performance envelope, all-electric heating and cooling systems, and energy-efficient recovery ventilation.