New House Speaks To College Language Program

PORTLAND, Ore. — Language students at Reed College have a central location to call home following the opening of a new $2.75 million residential house.

Spanish students and scholars in the college’s language immersion program will live in the 9,447-square-foot, three-story structure that was designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects Inc. to fit in aesthetically with the Woodstock Language House complex.

The complex, designed in the 1920s by local architect A.E. Doyle, once served as faculty housing, but now forms the college’s language district with houses for German, French, Russian and Chinese language students connected by a common plaza.

Walking paths were incorporated in the design to strength the bond between the houses and, along with the plaza, which serves as a common meeting place.

The plaza is now the site for the college’s annual cultural celebrations, such as Cinco de Mayo and Oktoberfest, he says.

Although the house was built to meet LEED Silver standards for certification, Osborne says the college will not seek the designation to save costs.

The language house is much bigger than most of the houses in the adjacent neighborhood, which also retain a 1920s aesthetic. The traditional form of the house and steep inclined roof endear the house to its surroundings, Osborne says.

The new language house has 17 individual rooms. Heating controls can be personalized in the rooms and all rooms have natural ventilation. Interiors feature several window seats, study alcoves, and the exterior has covered porches.

“What we’re most proud of is the spaces themselves, the nooks and alcoves,” Osborne says. “Besides being in common areas, there are lots of places for intimate conversations. It gives the feeling of an older grand house. It’s not like a traditional student residence hall.”