Newly Renovated Residence Hall Feels Like Dream Home

^{Above: Students relax in a common area in the newly renovated Buist Rivers Residence Hall. (Photos by Catie Cleveland)}

When we imagine designing our very own dream home, we all see something different. There are, however, some things that we all look for in a home: a modern kitchen, new appliances, updated bathrooms, upgraded interior finishes, spacious rooms, ample closet space, easy maintenance, welcoming living areas for lounging and entertaining and – above all – a clean, safe, comfortable place to escape to when we need a little personal time. Oh, and, of course: location, location, location!

The newly renovated Buist Rivers Residence Hall delivers all the things we want – and more!

Built in the center of campus in 1963, the four-story Buist Rivers Residence Hall was completely reimagined in 2025 to provide the best living and learning space possible for its 114 occupants. Co-ed by floor, it features double-occupancy bedrooms with MicroFridges and furnished lounges with kitchenettes and free washers and dryers on each floor. Plus, there is a full kitchen on the ground level.

“Buist Rivers Hall was designed with comfort and modern on-campus living in mind,” says Megan Rowe, director of Campus Housing at the College of Charleston, noting that students always loved the larger room size and large closets, but did not always love the dated look or the HVAC units in the middle of the room. “We kept what they loved and updated the rest.”

And, with upgraded lighting and brand-new electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems, Buist is the freshest residence hall on campus!

“The renovations to Buist Rivers Residence Hall have made the building feel more comfortable, modern and welcoming to the new students,” says Madison DeLong, second-floor RA. “I appreciate the improvements because they create a better living space that supports comfort for academic and personal success!”

The renovations also create spaces for community building.

“Each floor also now features welcoming lounges with super comfortable furniture, kitchenettes and laundry facilities, making it easier than ever for students to relax and connect with one another,” says Rowe. “We also added individual focus spaces, giving students a quiet, private area to study or take a call.”

Perhaps the most notable renovations were to the bathrooms, which were made into private floor bathrooms – a trending concept in modern residence halls.

“Students were not fans of the bathrooms pre-renovation, as they lacked privacy and were hard to maintain because of the finishes,” says Rowe. “So, we took the two traditional communal bathrooms – each with four sinks, toilets and showers in one shared space – and transformed them into eight private, spa-inspired bathrooms that are individually maintained by our custodial staff.”

With eight bathrooms on the second, third and fourth floors, and three bathrooms on the first floor, there are approximately four students to each bathroom on each floor. Each bathroom has a locking door with its own sink, shower and toilet. There are additional external vanities in the hall next to the bathrooms so that students can brush their teeth or wash their faces conveniently.

“The residents are excited about the new bathrooms,” says Ruby Zatyko, third-floor RA, adding that, as a whole, the renovations are remarkable. “I’ve received compliments from residents and visitors about the building’s condition.”

Fourth-floor RA Rhys Baker is also impressed by the renovations at Buist.

“At the end of last year, I was nervous about whether all the ambitious renovations would be finished in time for my third year, but when I moved in, all my worries disappeared,” he says. “Buist is a lovely place that I’m proud to call home.”

Indeed, it has everything you’d look for in a home.

“The final product turned out beautifully and certainly has the ‘wow’ factor we were going for,” says Rowe. “The updates turned out so well, I’d honestly love to move in myself!”