The Davis Center

The Davis Center stands as a testament to the enduring influence of student advocacy for social justice and inclusive community at Williams College. Rooted in the campus protests of 1969, the newly renovated and expanded Center reopened in 2024 as a vibrant hub for programs and spaces that uplift historically underrepresented communities while engaging with complex issues of identity, history, and culture.

Spanning 25,800 square feet, the reimagined Davis Center features a cohesive complex with a significant new addition situated between the cherished Rice and Jenness Houses. A central public plaza connects these three buildings, framed by a winding bioswale that defines the Center’s precinct. The design also carves out a universally accessible pathway leading to Walden Street, introducing a public entrance that faces Spring Street and extending the campus’s connection to the broader Williamstown community.

The new addition harmonizes with the intimate scale of its neighbors while showcasing an open, transparent ground floor that invites engagement from the entire campus. Its dynamic folded roofline reflects the surrounding mountain ranges, while the exterior, clad in charred wood, symbolizes the community’s resilience in the face of adversity.

Emphasizing sustainability, the Davis Center achieves net-zero operational and embodied carbon through a range of innovative strategies. It utilizes fossil-fuel-free systems, implements deep energy retrofitting, and adapts existing structures. The low-carbon wood construction and careful selection of Red List-free materials further enhance its ecological footprint. Additionally, the project incorporates carbon offsets and actively pursues Living Building Challenge Petal Certification. The Davis Center embodies Williams’ unwavering commitment to cultivating a community that is socially just, culturally vibrant, and environmentally restorative.