As part of The Village at Tulane University, Fogelman Hall advances a new era of university living on the historic uptown campus, elevating the undergraduate experience within the vibrant architecture and communal spirit of New Orleans. The inaugural building of Phase II, Fogelman is home to more than 300 residents in an environment that promotes learning and mentorship. A Tulane professor in residence is embedded within the community, providing an accessible presence that enriches daily life and strengthens the connection between the academic and the social.

Rather than designing a conventional dormitory, Hanbury approached Fogelman as a collection of student houses, reframing institutional housing as a living-learning community rooted in place and belonging. The concept began with language: the lobby became the foyer, the corridor became the street, and the quieter study zones became the backyard. This domestic framing carries through the building as a spatial journey across the landscapes of New Orleans, moving from the energy of the street to the quiet of the tree canopy.

The design strategy addresses the challenges of urban density. By breaking the building mass into smaller, cascading blocks and orienting them thoughtfully, the design creates an intimately scaled residence hall experience while preserving the lively New Orleans streetscape. This approach promotes active, welcoming spaces at ground level and integrates the new structure seamlessly into Tulane’s beloved Berger Family Lawn, enhancing community connectivity without expanding land use.

The ground floor features a network of spaces for study, socialization, and recreation. Double-height lounges and varied communal spaces create opportunities for spontaneous interaction, while porch-like pockets offer retreat without pulling students away from the activity around them. As the building rises, the interiors grow more intimate, with two-story lounges that stitch floors into a vertical community and study spaces tucked among views of the historic live oaks. Designed for flexibility, these shared environments bridge the academic and residential experience and adapt to the shifting rhythms of student life.

Positioned among 25 historic live oaks, Fogelman is carefully designed to respect the natural canopy and enhance the interaction between indoor spaces and the lush outdoor environment. The architectural forms are rotated and stepped to synchronize with the existing Phase I housing and minimize disruption to the trees. Locally sourced St. Joe’s Brick links the building to Tulane’s architectural heritage while incorporating advanced construction techniques that enhance durability and thermal performance, maintaining continuity within the campus aesthetic and contributing to the project’s environmental strategy in a distinctly Tulanian manner.

Design: Hanbury
Project Team: Jane Cady Rathbone, Client Leader and Student Living-Learning Strategist; Alec Yuzhbabenko, Lead Designer
Richard J. Rusinak, Technical Design Lead; Michael C. Beaver, Project Architect and Manager; Ramon E. Soledispa, Project Architect; Anna E. Carpenter, Project Architect; Sarah Bannon, Designer, Interiors;
Associate Architect: practis,
MEP Engineer: Associated Design Group
Structural Engineer: Morphy, Makofsky Inc.
Civil Engineer: Schrenk, Edmond & Flanagan
Landscape Architect: Spackman Mossop Michaels
Photography: Hanbury