In a step toward updating and modernizing on-campus housing to attract a range of students, Texas-based Pfluger Architects renovated the student lounges in Kinsolving Hall, a five-story, all-girls dormitory at The University of Texas at Austin initially built in 1958.
Drawing inspiration from the university's brand message, "What starts here changes the world," Pfluger reimagined and renovated the dorm's 19 student lounges, a total of 8,900 sf. Each floor represents a step in the journey toward exploring possibilities and reaching one's potential, and the design of the lounges on each floor reflect those concepts.
Kinsolving Hall Student Housing Renovation
The first floor is designed to be a sanctuary, a home away from home, where students can nurture self-confidence and ease the transition into college life. This space is vital for building a supportive community that acts as a buffer against stress and loneliness.
![Kinsolving Hall first floor with students studying](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pfluger%20Kinsolving-9983B.jpg)
![Kinsolving Hall second floor with students studying](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pfluger%20Kinsolving-0096B.jpg)
The second floor takes inspiration from the campus and encourages academic growth and an inquisitive nature. The third floor is the building's communal heart, celebrating the city of Austin's vibrant culture.
The fourth floor encourages collaboration and exploration, with each of the four lounges representing iconic natural Texas destinations like Big Bend National Park or the Hill Country’s Comal River. At the pinnacle, the fifth floor symbolizes endless possibilities, inspiring students to envision and work toward changing the world.
"Creating lounge and community spaces for the way today’s college students study and live, and bringing them to life in a historic building that has been part of the UT Austin campus fabric for decades was a fantastic opportunity to stretch our creative muscles,” said Christian Owens, Principal and Design Director, Pfluger’s Higher Education Practice, based in the firm’s Austin office. “The team’s vision and leadership significantly contributed to this project's success and we’re proud to have created spaces that encourage collaboration, exploration, and camaraderie."
![]() | ![]() |
![Kinsolving Hall fifth floor with students talking](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pfluger%20Kinsolving-0229B.jpg)
Durable fabrics and materials in a vibrant color palette complement the floor covering and custom wall art. Comfortable sectional sofas, overstuffed chairs, poufs, and stools create a variety of seating options for individual study, small group lounging and group gatherings for conversation or game time. The renovated interiors were designed by Pfluger and completed with the help of engineering consultants Waterloo/MEP and general contractor Balfour Beatty. Pfluger’s designers selected materials from Armstrong (wood wall and ceiling panels), Interface Carpet, Flor Carpet, Mannington Carpet, National Solutions Wallcoverings, Koroseal Walltalkers, Sherwin Williams (paint), CR Laurence, and SRG Solutions (CNC walls) for the lounges.
Affordable, on-campus accommodations with amenity-rich offerings like community spaces, wellness facilities, tech connectivity and a range of study and gathering space options are in high demand at higher education campuses across the country, especially in Texas. The university sought to modernize the common areas in the historic building to reflect the types of spaces sought after by students attending the university and retain them in on-campus housing.
About Pfluger Architects
Pfluger Architects creates beautiful, functional, environmentally sensitive spaces that meet the needs of those we serve. Our inclusive and collaborative teams respect ideas that reflect independent thought and individual backgrounds. We believe that by empowering our differences, we can achieve extraordinary results that will inspire people to create a more meaningful human experience. Learn more at https://pflugerarchitects.com/
![Kinsolving Hall, University of Texas - Austin, exterior](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kinsolving_Ext.jpg)
![Kinsolving Hall, University of Texas - Austin, front entrance](/sites/default/files/inline-images/Kinsolving_Front%20Entrance.jpg)
Related Stories
Multifamily Housing | Feb 5, 2024
Wood Partners transfers all property management operations to Greystar
Greystar and Wood have entered into a long-term agreement whereby Greystar will serve as property manager for all current and future Wood developed and owned assets.
University Buildings | Jan 15, 2024
The death of single-use university buildings
As institutions aim to improve the lives of their students and the spaces they inhabit, flexible university buildings may provide an all-in-one solution.
Student Housing | Jan 12, 2024
UC Berkeley uses shipping containers to block protestors of student housing project
The University of California at Berkeley took the drastic step of erecting a wall of shipping containers to keep protestors out of a site of a planned student housing complex. The $312 million project would provide badly needed housing at the site of People’s Park.
MFPRO+ News | Dec 22, 2023
Document offers guidance on heat pump deployment for multifamily housing
ICAST (International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology) has released a resource guide to help multifamily owners and managers, policymakers, utilities, energy efficiency program implementers, and others advance the deployment of VHE heat pump HVAC and water heaters in multifamily housing.
Giants 400 | Dec 20, 2023
Top 40 Student Housing Construction Firms for 2023
Findorff, Juneau Construction, JE Dunn Construction, and Weitz Company top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 20, 2023
Top 30 Student Housing Engineering Firms for 2023
Kimley-Horn, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, KPFF Consulting Engineers, and Olsson head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Dec 20, 2023
Top 90 Student Housing Architecture Firms for 2023
Niles Bolton Associates, Solomon Cordwell Buenz, BKV Group, and Humphreys and Partners Architects top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest student housing facility architecture and architecture/engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2023 Giants 400 Report.
University Buildings | Dec 8, 2023
Yale University breaks ground on nation's largest Living Building student housing complex
A groundbreaking on Oct. 11 kicked off a project aiming to construct the largest Living Building Challenge-certified residence on a university campus. The Living Village, a 45,000 sf home for Yale University Divinity School graduate students, “will make an ecological statement about the need to build in harmony with the natural world while training students to become ‘apostles of the environment’,” according to Bruner/Cott, which is leading the design team that includes Höweler + Yoon Architecture and Andropogon Associates.
Student Housing | Dec 5, 2023
October had fastest start ever for student housing preleasing
The student housing market for the upcoming 2024-2025 leasing season has started sooner and faster than ever.
Multifamily Housing | Nov 30, 2023
A lasting housing impact: Gen-Z redefines multifamily living
Nathan Casteel, Design Leader, DLR Group, details what sets an apartment community apart for younger generations.