In Ithaca, New York, a new six-building development is transforming off-campus living for Cornell University students with a bold mix of colorful metal panels, terracotta brick, and community-oriented design.
Known as Catherine Commons, the residential community covers two adjacent sites—Catherine North and Catherine South—along College Avenue in the Collegetown district. Designed by ikon.5 architects, the project offers studio to three-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms, integrated retail, and indoor and outdoor amenity spaces.
Unlike other large-scale student housing, the development features double-height ground-floor gathering areas that open to the street, framed by grand entryways and furnished alcoves that encourage informal social interactions.
Vertical standing seam metal panels with protruding fins add dynamic visual texture across the building facades. The material palette also includes aluminum composite metal (ACM) panels, metal shingles, and aluminum curtain wall and window systems—each contributing to the layered and durable exterior look.
Catherine North includes an eight-story mixed-use building with retail on the ground floor and residences above, flanked by two four-story residential buildings connected via an open metal pedestrian bridge. Strategic ground-floor openings between structures improve courtyard access and circulation.
At Catherine South, three buildings decrease in height to match the surrounding residential neighborhood. Two seven-story structures contain apartments and a fitness center, while a third, three-story building with a pitched roof and metal shingles reflects the architecture typical of Collegetown.
By blending terracotta, stone, and various metal systems, Catherine Commons presents an elegant yet lively design that enhances the student housing experience.
Known as Catherine Commons, the residential community spans two adjacent sites—Catherine North and Catherine South—along College Avenue in the Collegetown district. Designed by ikon.5 architects, the project offers studio to three-bedroom apartments with private bathrooms, integrated retail, and indoor and outdoor amenity spaces.
Distinct from other large-scale student housing, the development incorporates double-height ground-floor gathering areas that open to the street, framed by monumental entryways and furnished alcoves that foster informal social interaction.
Vertical standing seam metal panels with protruding fins provide dynamic visual texture across the building facades. The material palette also includes aluminum composite metal (ACM) panels, metal shingles, and aluminum curtain wall and window systems—all contributing to the layered and durable exterior expression.
Catherine North features an eight-story mixed-use building with retail below and residences above, flanked by two four-story residential buildings linked via an open metal pedestrian bridge. Strategic ground-floor openings between structures enhance courtyard access and circulation.
At Catherine South, three buildings step down in height to meet the scale of the surrounding residential neighborhood. Two seven-story structures house apartments and a fitness center, while a third, three-story building with a pitched roof and metal shingles reflects the vernacular architecture of Collegetown.
By blending terracotta, stone, and an array of metal systems, Catherine Commons offers a refined yet playful composition that elevates the student housing experience.
