New residence halls showcase Tulane’s enhanced educational experience

A new era in transformative living and learning will greet students when they arrive for Tulane University’s annual “Move-In” for the new academic year, Aug. 10-16. The university will unveil the newly completed Bayou and Fogelman Residence Halls — state-of-the-art spaces that combine an innovative mix of living and learning opportunities.

“Discovery never stops at Tulane,” President Michael A. Fitts said. “Bringing more students onto campus to live and learn in the collaborative and inspiring spaces of these spectacular residences enhances and empowers a relational community where ideas, energy and learning extend beyond the classroom. Student residences are a vital part of the life-changing experience of a Tulane education.”

The new residences, which feature double suite-style rooms, total around 780 new beds, and include study lounges, kitchens, meeting spaces and apartment space for resident directors, who will provide leadership and oversight for the residential community. Fogelman Residence Hall will also have an apartment for a faculty-in-residence, who will help support programming that bridges living and learning experiences. The two new residences will house primarily sophomores and juniors.

Fogelman Residence Hall is named for real estate magnate Avron B. Fogelman, a 1962 graduate of Tulane, and his wife Wendy, a 1963 graduate of Newcomb College. The couple provided the lead gift to help transform the residential experience at Tulane by providing students with a state-of-the-art living space for academics, socializing, recreation and more.

Bayou and Fogelman Residence Halls, which replace Paterson Hall and Irby House, respectively, complete Village II, the second phase of The Village — a series of innovative campus residences representing the largest capital investment in Tulane’s history. Irby House holds a special meaning for Avron Fogelman. As an undergraduate from Memphis, Tennessee, he was among the first residents of Irby, which was dedicated as a men’s residence hall in 1955.

Located on McAlister Way between Freret and Willow streets, Bayou and Fogelman Residence Halls will join River and Lake Halls, which opened in 2023.
With the addition of Bayou and Fogelman, Tulane will now be able to house most juniors on campus, exponentially increasing the university’s capacity for student living to nearly 5,000 — the most ever living on campus — and also giving the vast majority of its undergraduates easier access to classrooms, libraries, dining options, recreational venues, student health services and more.

Research shows that living on campus improves academic success, increases student engagement, provides convenient access to resources, and generally makes for a more rewarding and inspiring undergraduate experience.

When Fitts arrived at Tulane in 2014, he established a task force to strategically consider ways to enhance the student experience. Along with The Village, the effort included such major capital projects as Mussafer Hall; The Commons; expansion of the Goldring-Woldenberg Business Complex; renovation and expansion of Richardson Memorial Hall, home of the School of Architecture and Built Environment; the Steven and Jann Paul Hall for Science and Engineering; and a new TUPD station on Broadway. The construction totals 10 buildings equaling 848,896 square feet on the uptown campus alone. ​​​​​​​​​​​​

“We are incredibly excited to open Bayou and Fogelman Residence Halls, as these new communities represent a significant enhancement to our campus living experience,” said Timothy Lempfert, executive director of Housing and Residence Life. “They offer students updated living spaces designed to foster community and academic success in the heart of campus.”

Sarah Cunningham, vice president of student affairs, said the opening of the new residence halls represent a major milestone in Tulane’s ongoing commitment to enhance the undergraduate experience.

“They are vibrant communities designed to support student wellness, foster connection and enhance academic success,” Cunningham said. “Tulane has built more than just places to live — we’ve created places where students can truly belong, grow and make lifelong memories.”

The Village’s latest residence halls also help fulfill Tulane’s goal of working closely with the City of New Orleans to build more housing to reduce pressure on the off-campus housing market and sustain the integrity of the neighborhood communities that surround the university.

Lake and River Residence Halls, which opened in 2023 as part of Village I, the first phase of The Village, offer nearly 700 beds and similar learning and gathering spaces, along with a theater-style auditorium and the Small Family Collaboration Hub, a 14,000-square-foot space for students to gather and pursue shared interests in a relaxing and fun-filled area. The Hub includes room to collaborate on school projects and for departments to host career and academic advising, wellness events and campus programming. 

Lake and River Halls also have a shared outdoor courtyard, student lounges and commercial-grade kitchens for students to prepare meals.