Originally constructed circa 1784, and destroyed twice by fires, Dartmouth Hall was last reconstructed in 1906. An extensive restoration and renovation was completed in 2022. The 40,000 sf building includes a lecture hall, classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, and gallery spaces, ensuring the building will continue to serve students and faculty well into the future while preserving its rich history.
In collaboration with the architect and landscape architect, RFS designed site improvements with a focus on accessibility, without impacting the iconic building approach and façade. RFS designed structural retrofits to enable the architectural program, and to repair structural degradation.
Energy modeling and life cycle cost analysis guided HVAC system selection, and the approach for building envelope upgrades. Heating system distribution includes low-temperature hot water, for integration with Dartmouth’s future district heating decarbonization. The building includes state-of-the-art lighting and lighting control, telecommunications, security, and A/V systems to support the variety of programs.
Recognition
LEED Gold Certified
AIA NH, Monahan Preservation Honor Award
Services
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Fire Protection
Civil
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Metrics
40,000 sf
Architect
designLAB architects
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