Student residence building with glass windows and street view at dusk.

Feil Family and Weill Family Residence Hall

New York, New York

A Home for Tomorrow’s Healers

The new Feil Family and Weill Family Residence Hall at Weill Cornell Medicine is more than a place to live, it is a home base for future doctors, scientists, and educators. Just four blocks from campus, it houses 272 medical and graduate students in bright, sustainable spaces designed to support focus, connection, and restoration. Every choice, from daylight filled study nooks to yoga studios, music rooms, and rooftop terraces, helps students build healthy habits that will carry into their medical careers. A continuous vertical ‘carve’ links all communal spaces and brings daylight deep into the building, creating visual and social connections.

Fully electric and Net-Zero Ready, the residence hall is also designed for resilient occupancy, ensuring the building can safely and equitably support students during periods of stress or medical emergencies. Our process was guided by listening to students, faculty, and leadership, because when students feel cared for, they thrive as both learners and future caregivers.

Client: Weill Cornell Medicine
Size: 170,000 square feet
Completion Date: 2025

Modern medical student residence hall on a sunny day at an intersection in New York City.

Student residence lounge with city skyline view, people relaxing and working near large windows.

The 16-story building supports healthy lifestyles and creates opportunities for connection.

WHAT IT IS

A residence hall where sustainability, resilience, and student well-being come together to support future healthcare leaders.

Massing diagram of a building with transitions to show a carved program.

A continuous vertical 'carve' brings daylight deep into the building and down to the street level, creates a visual sightline to campus, and connects shared community spaces.

Student residential building lobby with wooden accents and large windows.

Upon entry, residents are welcomed into a light-filled, secure lobby.

Outdoor terrace area with seating, plants, and people relaxing near a building.

Quiet student workspace with red booths and large windows.

Student lounge with red seating and natural light.

Outdoor terraces, quiet corners, and triple-glazed windows support resident respite, offering moments of quiet and calm.

Student residence kitchen and living area with residents relaxing and preparing food.

Student residence studio apartment with cozy decor and workspace.

Every detail, from layouts to materials, was chosen to create a sense of home, supporting wellness, productivity, and the rhythm of life at Weill Cornell Medicine.

THOUGHTFUL LIVING SPACES

Each of the 272 student residences is designed for comfort, focus, and independence.

Units range from private studios to one- and two-bedroom apartments, all fully furnished with kitchens, living areas, and ADA-accessible bathrooms. Large windows invite natural light, while blackout shades ensure rest during demanding schedules. The unit typologies and mix were informed by a 2019 student survey of 657 participants, balancing affordability, density, and lifestyle needs in the context of New York City.

Yoga studio with people practicing on mats, wooden storage and sleek lighting.

Man playing piano in a music practice room with guitar and chair nearby.

Yoga studios, fitness areas, and music rooms offer balance and creative outlets, while welcoming lounge areas promote interaction and social connection.

Residential fitness lobby with glass, stairs, seating, and people walking in bright natural light.

Strategically placed skylights and interconnecting stairs draw daylight deep into below-grade spaces, creating a vibrant, uplifting environment connected to the lobby above.

Student residence building exterior with tall glass windows against blue sky.

Terracotta tiles in shades of white reference campus heritage while naturally regulating temperature, and energy-efficient systems reduce carbon while improving comfort.

DESIGNED TO ENDURE

Beyond comfort and community, the building is a resource for the campus.

All-electric, low-energy systems and a high-performance envelope support sustainability while enabling resilient occupancy under conditions of shock or stress. In emergencies, shared spaces, outdoor terraces, and event areas can be reconfigured for alternative uses, ensuring safety and continuity.

Rooftop evening gathering with cityscape view.

Rooftop terrace with people enjoying views and modern seating, surrounded by cityscape.

Prefunction event lounge area with people and city view through large windows.

The sky lounge and pre-function space supports institutional events and gatherings, while the outdoor terrace provides residents with a place for respite after clinical rotations and studying.

Project Team

David Damon

Robert Goodwin

Feil Family and Weill Family Residence Hall

Project Team

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