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Over a Century of Dorm Rooms at the University of Pennsylvania

Back in 1830, when Penn was located in Old City, tuition was $25 per term plus an extra $3 for room and board. While prices have increased since then, Penn now has the College House system, which began in 1998 with a variety of dormitory buildings, culminating in New College House, which recently opened. Here are several scenes spanning over a century.

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caption: Quadrangles study room in Lippincott House, ca. 1901, built 1894-1896, Cope & Stewardson, architects. Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.

 caption: Upper Quadrangle room, ca. 1890s; the University supplied a bedstead, mattress, bureau, washstand table, bookcase, chairs and toilet china.Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.

  caption: Penn men relaxing in the Quadrangle, ca. 1955. Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.

caption: Hill College House, built 1960, Eero Saarinen, and Assoc., architects. Photograph courtesy of the University Archive.

caption: Hill College House lounge, 1960; built for Penn's women students. Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.

caption: Sergeant Hall, 120 S. 34th St, 1950; demolished 1975; first dorm for women at Penn. Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.

caption: Sergeant Hall, built 1900, room, ca. 1912. Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.

caption: Rodin College House, ca. 2008, after major renovations. Photographs by Greg Benson.    

caption: Quadrangle, Fisher-Hassenfeld House, ca. 2004, after major renovations and reorganization. Photograph courtesy of the University Archives.   

caption: New College House lobby, just opened for fall 2016 semester; the building is bounded by 33rd Street, 34th Street, Chestnut Street and the 125 Years of Women at Penn Walkway.

caption: The Dining Hall is central to the New College House. It spills onto the courtyard and is nestled beneath the lifted lawn (see here). The dining venue allows for both large special events and more intimate dining with friends. It is Penn’s first dormitory designed specifically as a College House, by architects Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (Almanac August 30, 2016).
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