Balfour Beatty Campus Solutions (BBCS) has partnered with Wentworth Institute of Technology to deliver the US$200 million First-Year Tower Residence Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, with BOND and Perkins&Will also involved in the project.

The project comprises an 18-story, 202,000-square-foot residence hall designed to house 972 first-year students, bringing Wentworth’s entire first-year residential cohort together in a single facility for the first time. The development represents the university’s largest capital investment to date and is a key component of its Institutional Master Plan. 

BBCS is partnering with BOND and Perkins&Will to create a vibrant living-learning environment designed to foster community, academic success, and student well-being. Once complete, the First-Year Tower will provide students with modern residential accommodations and community-centered spaces designed to support their transition to college life. Key features of the development include:

• 972 student beds designed for first-year students
• Dining venues and community gathering spaces
• Dedicated student lounges and collaboration areas throughout the residential floors
• Enhanced pedestrian connectivity

The residence hall is expected to establish a new standard for sustainable campus development in Massachusetts. Designed to meet Passive House standards, the facility will be among the state’s first all-electric residence halls of its type, helping to significantly lower energy use while improving indoor air quality, thermal comfort and long-term operational efficiency. The development supports Wentworth’s wider strategy to expand on-campus accommodation and promote student success. Under its 10-year Institutional Master Plan, the university plans to add around 1,400 beds and increase the share of students living on campus to approximately 75% over the next decade.

Beyond benefiting students, the development is expected to contribute to the surrounding communities by expanding on-campus housing and helping reduce pressure on Boston’s rental market. The project will also deliver improvements to the public realm, including better pedestrian connectivity and upgrades to transportation infrastructure.

Construction is already underway, with an official groundbreaking ceremony planned for September 17, 2026. The First-Year Tower is scheduled to welcome its first residents in August 2028.