Colorado College’s Housing Department is working on a housing master plan that will identify CC’s immediate renovation needs and guide long-term planning, said housing officials during a welcome party celebrating Mathias Hall’s lobby renovation last Monday.
Samantha Soren, Director of Housing and the Residential Experience, said the plan would help the department “map out which buildings to be addressed next, while also aligning with CC’s strategic goals.”
She added that the lobby remodel marked the final phase of a three-part building refresh that began in the summer of 2023.
“With the Mathias lobby complete, we’ve officially marked the final phase of our three-phase building refresh, which began with paint, flooring, and new lighting on Mathias’ fourth floor,” Soren said.
“The project also included new furniture for all common areas in Mathias.”
When asked why Mathias was chosen over the other ‘Big 3’ residence halls, especially amid student concerns about Loomis Hall’s “dilapidated” state, Jono Stephenson, Assistant Director of the Residential Experience, said that Loomis had recently undergone several updates.
“Loomis Hall was repainted in its entirety in the summer of 2024, and the kitchens were upgraded over winter break,
“Loomis also received new lounge furniture over the past two years,” Stephenson said.
When addressed with student concerns of Mathias’ new aesthetic looking “too sterile” or “clean,” Sonia Mata commented on the design choices behind the renovation.
“For the renovation, we hired an architectural firm to redesign the entire lobby space,
“We wanted to brighten the area and incorporate more of our school colours without choosing tones that might go out-of-style in a few years,” she said.
Mata added that the tariffs imposed by the Trump Administration guided the Housing Department’s decision on the materials being used, which limited their options on the materials able to be used.
Finally, Jamal Westry, Maintenance and Facilities Manager for Residential Housing, said future renovations may not replicate Mathias’ aesthetic exactly.
“Each space is different,” Westry said.
“While the idea is to bring in more CC colors like we did in Mathias, we’ll make these determinations at the appropriate time, in line with the upcoming housing master plan which is currently in the works.”
On Sept. 29, Colorado College’s Housing Department hosted a welcome party to celebrate the completion of the Mathias Hall lobby renovation, drawing students, housing staff, faculty and administrators from across campus. The event marked the reopening of one of CC’s big residence hall lobbies after months of construction over the summer.
The remodel, said to be the final phase of a three-part project beginning in May 2023, included updates to paint, flooring and lighting throughout Mathias as well as new furniture for all its common areas.
When asked why Mathias was chosen over the other Big 3 residence halls, the Housing Department stated that the decision was based on accessibility, citing Mathias’ proximity to the C-Store.
“Other residence halls, like Loomis, have received updates in recent years, including full repainting, kitchen renovations and new lounge furniture,” said Housing.
The first floor’s lobby, which hosted the welcome party, featured new pool tables, foosball tables, study cubicles and lounge couches, marking the renovation’s emphasis on both leisure and study spaces, wanting to make it a “shared space” of sorts.
“The lobby was designed by an architecture firm to brighten the space while subtly incorporating the school’s colors,” Housing said. “We wanted to choose colors that remain timeless rather than trendy. Neutral tones were paired with flexible furniture and artwork to allow the space to adapt over time.”
During the welcome party, some residents described the new kitchen and lobby space as “too sterile” or “clean.” Still, Housing emphasized that the aesthetic was “intentional,” reflecting themes of “durability and functionality.”
The first floor features a newly furnished kitchen, complete with a modern kitchenette and a marble kitchen island, which was put to use by Colorado College’s Chef Machete, who prepared sushi for attendees.
The design choices, Housing officials said, were also influenced by trade tariffs, resulting in some materials being more difficult to source and include in the remodel. “Some materials were harder to source, shaping what could be used in the remodel.”
Looking forward, the Housing Department said that future renovations will be guided by a campus-wide housing master plan currently in development.
“This plan will identify immediate needs and map out which buildings should be addressed next, while aligning with the college’s strategic goals.”
However, they said that not all future remodels will replicate Mathias’ aesthetic.
“While we aim to incorporate CC colors, designs will be tailored to the unique character of each building.”
The welcome party allowed students from Mathias and other residence halls to explore the new lobby, try out the new furniture and engage with Housing staff and administrators. The Housing Department described the gathering as both a “celebration of Mathias’ renovation” and a “step toward shaping the long-term vision for residential life at CC.”