The new residence hall for RISD is the first stage of a masterplan to reclaim a series of public outdoor spaces on campus. The building uses materiality to relate to contextual elements nearby: on the north and south, the stacked bond brick facade serves as the tectonic glue to the site, producing a tectonic depth and weight; while on the east and west, the lightweight cement fiber monumentalizes the vernacular Providence shingle, celebrating the aesthetic of thinness. A hybrid steel/CLT structure allows for 9’ high raw wood ceilings for student dorm rooms.