Last updated on March 11, 2026.
Located in the center of campus, the opening of the new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive in fall 2026 represents a major investment in the student experience and the intentional connection between residential and academic life. Designed with significant student feedback, this 112,000-square-foot facility moves away from traditional corridor layouts toward interconnected “houses” that prioritize social engagement and collaboration.
The new residence hall will offer juniors and seniors a new type of living environment. The building features clusters of standalone single rooms, various types of four- to seven-person suites with single-occupancy bedrooms, and shared living spaces where academic and social lives seamlessly collide.
As part of the groundbreaking Dare Northward initiative, the new residence hall isn’t just a place to sleep, it is a purpose-built community designed to help you thrive with more lifestyle choices and opportunities for collaboration than ever before. The new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive offers a sophisticated, community-first living environment that redefines what it means to be an upperclass year student at Colby.
Renderings and visualizations are courtesy of Hopkins Architects
By junior and senior year, friendships are established, academic interests deepen, independence becomes more important, and choice matters. The new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive was designed specifically for this stage of college life. Regardless of where you choose to live, each area is located within close proximity to a central staircase and elevator, creating smaller communities within each vertical wing, and access to shared community among the entire floor.
Students can live in four-, five-, six-, or seven-person traditional suites that include:
Students can live in five- or six-person connected suite-style spaces that include:
Individually select into five-, six-, or seven-person clusters of single rooms without the need for a specific-size suitemate group. These spaces include:
The new residence hall includes 217 single-occupancy bedrooms arranged in traditional suites, connected suites, and clusters of standalone single rooms. Each bedroom is thoughtfully furnished with:
Rooms are designed to feel warm and light-filled, with large windows and exposed mass timber ceilings. Radiant flooring provides consistent, quiet comfort throughout the year. The single-room model allows students privacy while remaining closely connected to their suite community.
Single-user bathrooms are shared within each traditional suite, connected suite, and clusters of singles, creating a balance between privacy and community living. Fixtures are modern and durable, with standing showers and contemporary finishes. The design emphasizes simplicity, accessibility, and ease of maintenance while ensuring comfort for daily routines.
The new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive emphasizes a community-focused living environment. Shared responsibility for common spaces, such as bathrooms, supports this approach. Residents will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and care of the bathrooms in their immediate suite or singles cluster.
Community life is central to the the new residence hall and its residents’ experiences. Across the residences, students will find:
Common rooms vary in layout but are intentionally designed for flexibility and feature loveseats and lounge seating for conversation and study. Kitchenettes provide areas for shared meals, collaborative work, or small gatherings.
The buildings are organized vertically, with entrances, elevators, and stairwells positioned to bring students close to their rooms and shared spaces. This reduces long corridor travel and reinforces smaller community clusters within the larger residence.
Modern kitchenettes in connected suites and single-room clusters were designed for convenience and feature a full-size refrigerator, sink, and microwave/air fryer combination unit only.
These spaces provide residents with areas to share meals, work collaboratively, and hold small gatherings. Within the new residence hall, there are:
The new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive emphasizes a community-focused living environment. Shared responsibility for common spaces, such as kitchenettes, supports this approach. Residents will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and care of the bathrooms in their immediate suite or singles cluster.
Accessibility is embedded throughout the design of the new resience hall. Features include:
The layout prioritizes proximity to shared spaces and vertical access points, supporting ease of movement and equitable access across the community.
The new residence hall balances independence with convenience. Residents will benefit from:
The architectural scale, natural materials, and abundant daylight contribute to a residential experience that feels calm, grounded, and distinctly Colby.
The new residence hall represents a major investment in sustainable design and construction. The complex is currently the largest cross-laminated timber building project in the state of Maine. Key sustainability features include:
Mass timber reduces embodied carbon while creating interiors that feel warm and connected to the natural environment. High-performance building systems are designed to support comfort in Maine’s climate while minimizing environmental impact.
The buildings are integrated thoughtfully into the sloping, wooded landscape of Mayflower Hill, preserving the character of the site while strengthening pedestrian connections across campus.
Students who apply for the new residence hall will be assigned an individual selection time during the designated process.
To select a space, students must be able to fill that room with a previously created suitemate group (consisting of eligible and participating students).
Students looking to individually select into an area of clustered singles may choose any available space at the time of their selection.
Learn more about the new residence hall by exploring the FAQ section below.
The buildings are currently under construction and are scheduled to open in fall 2026.
The new residence hall is designed for juniors and seniors and will house 217 upperclass students.
By junior and senior year, students are developing deeper academic focus and stronger peer networks. The new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive supports that stage of independence by providing private bedrooms within a shared community setting. Students have space to study and recharge while remaining connected to their peers.
All bedrooms are single occupancy. Depending on student interest, traditional suites (4-7 person), community suites (5-7 person), and clusters of singles are available.
Traditional suites are designed for four, five, six, or seven students. Each student has a private single bedroom, access to single-user bathrooms, and a living space.
Connected suites are designed for five or six students. Each student has a private single bedroom, access to single-user bathrooms, living space, and access to a kitchenette shared between two community suites.
Traditional suites are what most students are familiar with at Colby. These spaces feature a grouping of single rooms, ensuite single-user restrooms, and shared community space. Access to these locations is for the residents of the specific traditional suite.
Connected suites are new to Colby and are purposely designed for shared community and social interactions. Similar to a traditional suite, each connected suite features a grouping of single rooms, ensuite single-user restrooms, and shared community space. Two connected suites share access to and responsibility for a kitchenette area. While community spaces may not be confined only to the residents of these spaces, the proximity to stairwells, elevators, and floor entrances makes the commons areas semi-private.
The new residence hall is organized into five vertical houses connected to one another. Rather than one long corridor-style building, this layout creates smaller residential clusters and keeps students close to shared spaces without long hallways.
The new residence hall was designed specifically for upperclass students and is intentionally designed for social interactions. The architectural scale, exposed mass timber, radiant flooring, and courtyard design create a distinct residential experience compared to traditional corridor-style halls.
Yes, the new residence hall includes elevators, multiple accessible entry points, and thoughtfully designed shared spaces.
The new residence hall is constructed with mass timber and features triple-glazed windows, radiant heating and cooling systems, and an energy-efficient design throughout.
The use of natural materials, abundant daylight, exposed timber, and landscaped exteriors creates a warm and grounded living environment. Shared spaces encourage connection, while private bedrooms provide individual space.
Yes, the floor plans for the new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive will be provided to students prior to the Housing Selection Process. These will be made available to students in the “Documents” area of the Colby Housing Portal.
Bridges connect the two sections of houses and include either comfortable seating for social connections or tables and chairs for studying with a view. These spaces create informal gathering points between floors and houses.
The new residence hall was designed by Hopkins Architects with Bruner/Cott serving as the architect on record.
Learn more about the building and its design from Hopkins Architects.
Each bedroom includes a full-size bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and two drawer units.
These spaces include a full-size refrigerator, sink, and a microwave/air fryer combination unit.
These spaces are thoughtfully curated for light meal prep (no ovens or stovetops) and easy clean-up, ensuring that the living area stays fresh and focused on study and relaxation.
Residents are welcome to personalize their space with a variety of College-approved cooking appliances, perfect for quick bites and snacks.
Each common room features Colby-provided lounge chairs, couches, or a combination of the two.
The new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive emphasizes a community-focused living environment. Shared responsibility for common spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchenettes, supports this approach.
Residents will be responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and care of the bathrooms and kitchenettes in their immediate suite or singles cluster.
All residents are enrolled in the full 21-swipe per week meal plan. Since the building is designed to prioritize study and social space over meal preparation, this direction ensures that students can focus on their Colby experience.
For more information about the meal plans, please visit the Housing Resources and Information page.
Located in the center of campus, the opening of the new Mayflower Hill Residence Hall in fall 2026 represents a major investment in the student experience and the intentional connection between residential and academic life. Designed with significant student feedback, this 112,000-square-foot facility moves away from traditional corridor layouts toward interconnected “houses” that prioritize social engagement and collaboration.
These residences will offer juniors and seniors a new type of living environment. The building features clusters of standalone single rooms, various types of four- to seven-person suites with single-occupancy bedrooms, and shared living spaces where academic and social lives seamlessly collide.
As part of the groundbreaking “Dare Northward” initiative, this residence hall isn’t just a place to sleep, it is a purpose-built community designed to help you thrive with more lifestyle choices and opportunities for collaboration than ever before. The Mayflower Hill Residences offer a sophisticated, community-first living environment that redefines what it means to be an upperclassman at Colby.
Learn more:
Renderings and visualizations are courtesy of Hopkins Architects.
Located in the center of campus, the opening of the new Mayflower Hill Residence Hall in fall 2026 represents a major investment in the student experience and the intentional connection between residential and academic life [3]. Designed with significant student feedback, this 112,000-square-foot facility moves away from traditional corridor layouts toward interconnected “houses” that prioritize social engagement and collaboration [1, 2].
These residences will offer juniors and seniors a new type of living environment. The building features clusters of standalone single rooms, various types of four- to seven-person suites with single-occupancy bedrooms, and shared living spaces where academic and social lives seamlessly collide [2, 3].
As part of the groundbreaking “Dare Northward” initiative, this residence hall isn’t just a place to sleep, it is a purpose-built community designed to help you thrive with more lifestyle choices and opportunities for collaboration than ever before [2, 3]. The Mayflower Hill Residences offer a sophisticated, community-first living environment that redefines what it means to be an upperclassman at Colby [1, 3].
[1] Hopkin Architects Colby College Mayflower Residences
[2] Dare Northward is Shaping Colby as a Global Leader
[3] Colby Makes Major Investment in Residential Program
Renderings and visualizations are courtesy of Hopkins Architects.
The new residence hall operates as part of the lottery housing selection process. This is similar to all other residence halls across campus. Students who apply for the new residence hall will be assigned an individual selection time.
To select a space, students must be able to fill that room with a previously created roommate group (consisting of eligible and participating students).
Because traditional and connected suites are designed for four, five, six, or seven students:
Students looking to individually select into an area of clustered standalone singles may choose any available space at the time of their selection.
All students participating in the housing selection for the fall 2026 semester, including the new residence hall on Mayflower Hill Drive, must complete their housing application by this deadline. Students who do not submit their application on time will not be eligible to select housing.
Students who applied by the deadline using the application for the new residence hall and have completed all required housing steps will receive their individualized selection time via email. Selection times are randomly assigned within class year priority guidelines and cannot be changed.
Students will log into the housing portal at their assigned time and may select any available space that matches their roommate group size (if applicable) and housing preference. Students who are unable to secure a space during this selection process will then be entered into the next available selection process in which they identified interest (i.e. suite selection on April 20-21, and General Housing Selection taking place between April 27-30).
