Vassar College – Raymond House Renovations

Puoghkeepsie, NY

AJA Architecture provided architectural, MEP+F, and structural services to Vassar College for the renovation of the historic Raymond House dormitory, a 5-story, 42,000 sq. ft building on the Vassar campus, originally constructed in 1897.

Raymond House, named in honor of Vassar’s second president, was architecturally imagined by Francis Allen. It stands as the second residential hall to grace Vassar’s Quad. Initially, Raymond House was constructed to meet the surging demand for student housing, as applications for Strong House, the inaugural Quad residence, were overflowing. Presently, Raymond House has the capacity to house 200 students.

Vassar enlisted AJA to collaborate with the college, Resident Life Staff, and local building and code authorities in the restoration of the venerable Raymond House stacks. With meticulous attention to preserving the building’s historical character and existing finishes, AJA played a pivotal role in rejuvenating the interior public spaces, including stairwells and hallways. Additionally, they designed new co-ed ADA-compliant restrooms for each floor. The most notable transformation involved the installation of an elevator to enhance accessibility for residents. Throughout the project, AJA strategically selected areas that would have minimal impact on the exterior facade and existing interior layouts, minimizing disruption to current dorm rooms while maximizing the number of beds available for students.

In addition to the renovation design of the 5-story building, AJA also coordinated with and managed Vassar’s MEP+F consultant team.