Johns Hopkins University recently celebrated the ceremonial groundbreaking for a new residence hall and dining commons on the Homewood campus—the first project of its kind at Homewood in more than 40 years, built on an idea that was 120 years in the making.
During his remarks at the event on Oct. 8, JHU President Ron Daniels shared the history leading up to this moment, beginning with a 1906 sketch of the campus that included 10 residence halls around a residential quad.
Video credit: Aubrey Morse / Johns Hopkins University
As budget constraints and World War I put those major ambitions on hold, it would not be until 1923 when the original AMR I, short for Alumni Memorial Residence Hall, welcomed its first 137 students. Since then, thousands of undergrads have called it home.
The new building replacing AMR I will offer about 120,000 square feet of living space for roughly 400 first-year students, doubling the capacity of the original residence hall, and will feature community lounges for relaxing and studying. The 41,000-square-foot dining commons will feature 500 seats with multiple food options and flexible hours.
"We all know that these are places where serendipitous interactions among students become friendships and relationships that, at the end of the day, are as meaningful and as transformative as the core academic program," Daniels said. "They help define not only the student experience here at Hopkins, but also what our students ultimately become when they graduate from this institution. That foundation of fellowship and friendship over meals and late nights is what we build upon today. And what a joy it is after all these years to finally give that spirit a home truly worthy of it."
Vice Provost for Student Affairs Rachelle Hernandez described the housing and dining project as an important step in strengthening the undergraduate experience.
"Today's groundbreaking is about much more than a new building," Hernandez said. "It's about creating a place with intentional spaces where students can live, gather, connect, and truly feel at home."
