Where the Heart Is
Wayne and Julie Drinkward Residence Hall
Each dorm on campus has its own culture, and the newest, the Wayne and Julie Drinkward Residence Hall, designed by Pfeiffer Partners Architects, is gradually being shaped by its first residents. The largest and tallest dorm on campus, Drinkward has suites (with kitchens) that house singles and doubles as well as halls (or “O’s”) that have a mix of singles and doubles. Distributed throughout its three floors are four lounges, the largest being this airy, light-filled main lounge.
To create the feel of a work-space where ideas happen, a material palette of unfinished wood was used on the ceiling. Sections are broken up with sound-absorbing Tectum ceiling panels placed in an angular pattern to reflect the angles of the lounge roof exterior.
Kaitlyn Loop ’19 (undeclared/engineering) says, “The main lounge is most like home to me because it feels like I am in the family room at my home in Arizona. We get to talk about our day, share stories, eat meals together and work on homework just like I did at home in my family room.”
Chalkboard (and clear glass) walls throughout Drinkward Hall foster spontaneous thought. Doodles, formulas, personal messages—all exemplify Harvey Mudd’s creative culture.
Theo Hansel ’19 (chemistry and biology) says, “What I like most about Drinkward is how close all of the people in the dorm are with each other. The use of the study rooms for collaboration on homework assignments is a great example of this.”
In addition to the “pterodactyl that lives on the second floor,” Sherman Lam ’16 (engineering) loves the suite community “studying together, cooking meals together and enjoying a shared space.”
Furniture is designed to be flexible and movable, allowing students to customize their space within the larger room.
Nupur Banerjee ’19 (undeclared/computer science) rarely sees the lounge empty. “I’m never too far away from a friend to talk to or study with,” she says. “The people in Drinkward make me feel at home, and I love that everyone is always happy to lend a hand and support each other.”
Jakim Johnson ’19 (undeclared/engineering) likes the whiteboards and chalkboards outside every door and can often be found here in the kitchen where “someone is usually cooking.”
Lupe MacIntosh ’18 (physics), a resident of West, stops by often to visit Drinkward proctor and friend Jessica Szejer ’16 (not pictured) and to take advantage of freshly baked cookies.
The kitchen creates a gathering spot and plays host to a variety of functions. A six-burner range, two refrigerators and two dishwashers accommodate large groups easily.
Jessica Lupanow ’18 (engineering) calls the lounge “super inviting” and likes that it’s “constantly filled with people baking, drawing and having pillow fights.”