Mussafer Hall

Mussafer Hall will be the result of a renovation of and addition to building 9, located on Tulane University’s historic front campus among majestic live oak trees. The original building was designed by Andry and Bendernagel and was built in 1902 by Toledano and Wogan Contractors. Built in the Dutch Renaissance style, it was originally Tulane’s first dormitory, Academic Dormitory, and was modeled after the Houston Hall at the University of Pennsylvania. It later became the Social Sciences Building and also housed Arts and Sciences classrooms. It most recently housed the School of Social Work, which relocated to 127 Elk Place in August of 2014.

Now vacated, the building is anticipated to be transformed into Mussafer Hall to provide a new combined home for the Academic Advising Center, Career Services and the Success Center. By collocating these three departments adjacent to Cudd Hall, the administrative building for the Newcomb-Tulane Undergraduate College and the Center for Public Service in Alcee Fortier Hall, a number of undergraduate academic services will be centralized on the edge of a single quad. Sized to provide room for growth, the project will accommodate academic support staff for the growing student body that has continued to surpass pre-Katrina enrollment.

Meant to draw students to the building, the project’s proposed addition will be sensitive to, but architecturally distinct from, the historic structure and surrounding site. The project will include much needed interior upgrades to the existing building while preserving the overall character of the historic structure. In an effort to increase meeting, gathering and study spaces on the front campus, and open the building up to university constituents and visitors alike, gathering spaces will be included in the design both inside and outside the building. The project will also be sensitive to the environment, with a university minimum of LEED Silver certification expected.