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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

A peek inside Balch Hall as renovations near completion

When Balch Hall opened in 1929, it joined Risley Hall on the still relatively new North Campus, as a residence hall intended for the increasing population of female students at Cornell University. This summer, we're nearing completion on the building's first significant construction project since the summer of 2000, and first overall renovation in six decades.

An old-fashioned stone college building with slate tiled roof, and a crane arm extending across the view
Balch Hall under renovation in July 2024 sports all-new windows, and new "dormers" sticking out of the roof where new elevators have been built.

This August, we're opening North Balch to its first new residents, who'll be able to enjoy a blend of classic architecture and design elements that honor the building's past, with modern safety features and comfort amenities.

Each room features all-new energy-efficient windows, air vents connected to a modern HVAC system to improve comfort in summer as well as winter, new flooring, new lighting, and for the first time, a thermostat in each room.

An empty residence hall room with the door open at right and windows at the far end
One of Balch Hall's singles, nearly ready for its first occupant.

Balch will have a modern elevator in each of its four units, and the "dormer" bump-outs that extend above the roof line to accommodate the four new elevator shafts were designed to mimic the look of the dormer windows in the building's existing fifth-floor rooms.

At the other end of the spectrum, we've incorporated reclaimed wood paneling, doors, and other elements from the original Balch Hall into common areas such as student lounges, including items from the room where Cornell alum and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg '54 lived when she was a Balch Resident.

Old wood door panels amid new construction in a common room
Old meets new as reclaimed elements from Balch Hall's past are incorporated into new spaces.

North Balch will open to residents in August 2024, and interior work will continue this year in South Balch, which will open to residents in 2025.