Rockefeller and Mead Halls begin a new era with renovations

Rockefeller and Mead Halls on the Mount Holyoke College campus are undergoing upgrades that preserve their history while improving functionality for modern student life and preparing them for the upcoming academic year.

Rockefeller Hall boasts new first-floor rooms, which will be available this fall, adding 18 new beds. Rachel Alldis, assistant vice president of student engagement and executive director of residential life, is excited to debut these rooms.

“Many of the rooms were created to be more accessible,” she said. “There’s more singles. There's more rooms with private bathrooms, which was something we needed more of on campus to meet accessibility needs. Facilities did such a great job [of] making those rooms so beautiful while also meeting all of the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] requirements to be considered an accessible room.” Accessible entrances for the Rockies will be completed during the fall semester.

A common bathroom has also been added to the first floor of the Rockies, so students will no longer have to go to the basement or the second floor to use a bathroom. A new ramp will be installed in the community space in Rocky North at the beginning of the semester to make it fully accessible.

In addition to room and community space updates, students can expect infrastructure improvements to enhance comfort and sustainability. Karla Youngblood FP’99, associate vice president for facilities management, discussed the upgrades that might not be visible to all.

“We began replacement of the original single-pane windows with new energy-efficient windows. Replacement of all windows will be completed [in] summer 2026, in addition to accessible entries and rebuilt porches on the west side,” she said.

The new windows are especially important, as Rockefeller Hall will convert from steam heat over the next few summers as part of the campus-wide geothermal exchange project. Students living in the Rockies will have more control over the temperature in their rooms, and air conditioning will be added in the summer of 2027.

“Students will have more individual control over the heat in their rooms, which they will appreciate because some people say, ‘It's way too hot,’ and others think there's not enough heat,” said Alldis. “And so, if students can control that a little more, I think they're going to feel really good about that.”

There will also be changes to the fourth floor of the Rockies. This year, it will house a Living-Learning Community (LLC) of first-year students. This is an expansion of the First Year Experience LLC housed in MacGregor Hall.

Mead Hall was recently renovated after it was struck by lightning in 2021. However, there are improvements to be made to this residence hall.

The Golden Pear community kitchen will be updated and improved to allow students in Mead Hall to prepare special meals. Golden Pears include full kitchen facilities, utensils and a dining room table that seats six to eight.A Golden Pear was installed in Rockefeller Hall in the spring 2025 semester.

“I don't think I can explain how much students like having the Golden Pears in their residence halls,” Alldis said.

A new community lounge space will also be installed on the first floor of Mead Hall. “I think it's going to make students feel like they have a better sense of community,” Alldis said. The construction for the improved Golden Pear and the lounge space will begin this fall, and both will be ready in the fall of 2026.

“We are so excited for students to experience these changes,” Alldis said. These updates reflect the College’s investment in creating a dynamic and supportive residential experience.