Dillard University Innovation Collective
At Louisiana’s oldest HBCU, a new residence hall serves as an inviting beacon for users; residents coming home from campus, student organizations looking for space to meet and study, and members of the broader Gentilly neighborhood.
Dillard University's new residence hall provides students with a safe and welcoming home. For the school and neighborhood, the building represents interconnection, responsibility, and growth.
Founded in 1869 from the union of Straight College and New Orleans University, Dillard University is the oldest HBCU in Louisiana. It is situated in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Following an extensive recovery period post-Katrina, the school sought to expand their legacy of service beyond the University community and introduce off-campus student housing.
The university executive committee and design team worked together during the initial programming and engagement phase to develop several critical goals, by which every design and construction decision was measured against.
- The project should feel like it is an extension of the main campus, while being an off-campus residence hall.
- Foster equitable community connection through a building that expands its impact beyond campus boundaries, offering accessible spaces that support connection, inclusion, and community empowerment.
- Prioritize wellbeing and promote physical, mental and social wellness by providing daylit gathering zones, opportunities for interaction, and a healthy environment for all users.
- Reference the surrounding context referencing campus architecture, aligning with neighborhood form, and uniting multiple goals into a cohesive design.
Outcome
The new residence hall reinforces Dillard University's presence and impact within New Orleans’ broader community. The university's first off-campus construction, the community spaces encourage wellness and collaboration among students, faculty, and local residents. The building name 'Innovation Collective' embodies Dillard University’s vision of a thriving, interconnected community grounded in shared purpose.
Campus leadership achieved their goal that students and faculty using the facility should feel a strong sense of connection—both to the wider campus environment and to other members of the university community. The project serves to foster equitable community connection through a building that expands its impact beyond campus boundaries, offering spaces that support connection, inclusion, and community empowerment. Prioritizing wellbeing, the building promotes physical, mental and social wellness by providing daylit gathering zones, opportunities for interaction, and a healthy environment for all users. The facility respects its context and purpose by referencing campus architecture, aligning with neighborhood dynamics, and uniting multiple goals into a cohesive design.
The project supports Dillard University’s long-term Vision 2050 goals by expanding housing capacity, strengthening student retention, and creating new spaces for academic and social connection beyond the traditional classroom. As one of the university’s first major off-campus residential developments following post-Katrina campus reconstruction, the building represents a significant investment in student life and institutional growth.
Organization of the building balances openness with student privacy and security. Public-facing amenities and gathering spaces anchor the ground floor, while controlled-access study lounges and residential floors support focused academic environments above. At the center of the project, a two-story communicating atrium functions as the social heart of the building, linking study, presentation, dining, and informal gathering spaces into a shared student commons.
The building’s form responds directly to surrounding neighborhood conditions. Massing steps down toward adjacent residential edges while opening toward Norman Mayer Avenue and campus-facing public space. Curved study lounges positioned along the building perimeter create long views across the campus and city while reinforcing moments of visibility and connection throughout the interior.
Resilience and long-term performance informed both site and building strategies. A central courtyard doubles as stormwater retention infrastructure during major rain events, while durable materials, backup power systems, and flexible ground-floor planning support continued use and adaptability over time.