Harvard College’s House System is one of its most cherished traditions, shaping student life with its unique blend of history, community, and identity. 

Since 1930, when President Abbott Lawrence Lowell introduced the system to foster intellectual and social cohesion, the twelve Houses have served as more than just dormitories—they are home to nearly 98% of undergraduates (sophomores through seniors). Yet, as time passed, aging infrastructure and accessibility concerns necessitated a bold renewal effort to modernize these historic spaces while preserving their distinct character.

Each spring, first-year students await their fate on Housing Day, when they are randomly assigned to one of Harvard’s twelve Houses for their remaining three years. From the stately River Houses to the tucked-away Radcliffe Quadrangle, or “Quad” residences, every House has a unique identity. Some dorms, like Mather (1970) and Currier (1970), are newer, while others predate the House System, such as Claverly Hall, now part of Adams House, built in 1892. While their historic red-brick facades and timeworn tunnels exude history, many Houses have faced overcrowding and lacked essential accessibility features.

Recognizing these challenges, Harvard launched its ambitious House Renewal project in 2006. The initiative was guided by six key program goals: 1) preserve our treasured house assets 2) eliminate overcrowding: no students sleeping in common rooms 3) build community by connecting students 4) strengthen tutor/student interaction & advising 5) increase student/faculty interaction 6) expand social, study, and academic spaces.

"At one point, summer preventative maintenance was no longer enough," explained Cameron Borgasano, Director of the Undergraduate House Renewal Program. "The conditions of these Houses mandated that a summer would no longer be an option to fix the buildings, pointing to the need for a full-scale renewal." The process officially began with Space Assessments in 2006 and a Facilities Condition Assessment in 2007, leading to the selection of Stone Hall (part of Quincy House since 1960) and Leverett’s McKinlock Hall as pilot projects. Together these two projects, formerly both Leverett House, approximated the renewal of an entire House.  With these renovations serving as test cases, Harvard refined its approach before embarking on a full-scale transformation of its River Houses. Dunster House was the first full  House to be completely renewed in 2015, followed by Winthrop House in 2017, Lowell House in 2019, and two sections of Adams House—Claverly Hall in 2021 and Randolph Hall in 2023. Now, Eliot House is next in line. Opened in 1931 and named after former Harvard President Charles William Eliot, the House is known for its grand “Fête” formal and its iconic diamond-shaped courtyard. Despite minor repairs over the decades, Eliot has never undergone a full renovation. "If you look at the mechanical and electrical plumbing systems [in Eliot House], it is wild," Borgasano remarked.

Renovations often bring unexpected discoveries. "Anytime you find anything unforeseen on the site, it’s nerve-wracking," Borgasano said. "Based on what you find, it can literally change your whole schedule." While working on Claverly Hall’s basement excavation, contractors unearthed about 50 fragmentary bones—later identified by a Harvard team of anthropologists and osteology experts as belonging to a single horse. While the exact circumstances that led to the bones' presence at the site remain unclear, the sandy material surrounding them is consistent with clean construction fill. The discovery adds an intriguing chapter to the hall’s long history before Harvard acquired it in 1920, and highlights the ongoing blend of preservation and progress as renovations continue.

Winthrop House yielded a different kind of relic: a brick hod marked "G A Fuller," linked to the founder of General Contracting. Other artifacts found over the years include glass jars with razor blades, unsent postcards and letters, and vintage bottles spanning the 1930s to 1950s. In Adams House, signatures were discovered in Apthorp House, the residence of the Faculty Deans, left by generations of students who had passed through its halls.

Borgasano also shared that the area along the Charles River once looked quite different: “There used to be a gas station on the site of Eliot House,” she said. “Luckily, our soil testing so far has provided favorable results that we’re not going to be finding stuff that we shouldn’t.” These small remnants of history add layers of depth to the House Renewal project, transforming it into more than just a construction effort—it’s a way of preserving the stories of Harvard’s past while making space for the future.

One of the guiding principles of House Renewal is to preserve the unique history of each House. "When you walk in the door, you don’t want to feel like you’re in Lowell or Winthrop. You want it to feel like Eliot," Borgasano emphasized for the next House to undergo renovations. To achieve this, architects work closely with each House community, including Faculty Deans, Resident Deans, building managers, and students. Eliot House has even formed an advisory committee to ensure its renovations maintain the House’s distinct character.

Some of the most beloved features of Harvard’s Houses are their tunnels, adorned with decades of student artwork. In Adams House, renovation teams photographed the original tunnel walls, later incorporating the imagery into the design theme of Randolph Hall—"The Art of the Written Word." Similarly, Eliot’s team is exploring ways to preserve or recreate its tunnel art, ensuring that future generations of students can leave their mark.

Beyond aesthetics, a major goal of the renovations is improving accessibility. Many River Houses, built in the 1920s, feature vertical entryways that make it difficult for students with mobility challenges to navigate their own House. "One of the big things we do in the River Neo-Georgian Houses, like Eliot, is driving horizontal corridors through these buildings to strengthen community and, most importantly, to make them accessible," Borgasano added.

This balance of preservation and progress defines the House Renewal project. Each renovation honors the character and traditions that make Harvard’s Houses more than just dormitories—they are places where generations of students have built friendships, debated ideas, and shaped their futures. As Harvard approaches its fourth century, the Houses will continue to evolve, ensuring that long after today’s students have moved on, they remain enduring homes of learning, community, and discovery.