In simultaneous meetings with the men of their dorms, rectors of Stanford and Keenan Halls informed residents that their buildings would be demolished. At 8 p.m. on Monday, October 5, Residential Life announced that Stanford and Keenan halls will be razed immediately following the upcoming spring semester. Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, two new residence halls will be constructed in their place.
An official email announcement from the Office of Residential Life was sent to the rest of campus. Per the announcement, “Returning Keenan residents will relocate to Howard and returning Stanford students will relocate to Zahm until the new halls open in the fall of 2029.”
These new halls will house approximately 236 residents each. The new hall for Stanford residents will stand on the current location of Stanford-Keenan, and the new hall for Keenan residents will replace Haggar Hall on the end of North quad.
Father Chris Brennan, C.S.C., the rector of Stanford Hall, was not surprised by the announcement as, “rumors of Stanford and Keenan being torn down have been circulating for years,” he told the Rover. Despite this, Fr. Brennan said, “I have mixed emotions about the decommissioning of Stanford Hall. This building has served us well and the architecture has helped us to be a tight knit community. I will miss it.”
The announcement to replace Keenan and Stanford arrives in the wake of the recent openings of Coyle Hall and Grojean Hall, which sit where Fisher and Pangborn halls once stood. It also follows a trend of residential development in the last decade at Notre Dame, including the renovations of historic dorms including Sorin, Alumni, Breen-Phillips, and most recently, Lyons Hall; this also includes the dissolution of Howard, Zahm, Fisher, and Pangborn.
Members of Keenan and Stanford will undergo a process similar to what the current members of Coyle Hall underwent beginning three years ago, when they lived in Fisher. On-campus seniors who have been members of Fisher hall since their freshman year can speak to the experience of living in the old hall, spending two years in a swing dorm, and now living in new facilities.
Coyle RA Jack Kelleher recalled his dorm community’s reaction to the news of Fisher’s demolition. “Morale definitely took a huge hit when they told us they were tearing down our cinderblock palace,” he told the Rover. Despite his nostalgia for Fisher Hall, he noted the poor living conditions: “When they let us tour Zahm and we saw how much of an upgrade we were getting, spirits perked up.”
Kelleher expressed his gratitude for the upgraded amenities of Coyle Hall, saying, “As much as we all love and reminisce about old Fish, the boys were absolutely buzzing to get into the new building. A/C and active and generous donors (shoutout the Coyles) are a big plus.”
In light of the reactions of former Pangborn and Fisher students to their new halls, residents of Keenan and Stanford are anxious for the change to come.
Aragon Herrera, a sophomore in Stanford, told the Rover, “While it is sad that we’re leaving our cinderblock palace, it’s all about the guys. The brotherhood and traditions will continue to thrive wherever we are.” He continued, “I think most guys think of it as bittersweet, looking forward to next year but also reminiscing on the past in this building.”
Despite mourning Stanford’s incoming destruction, Fr. Brennan remains optimistic about the future of the dorm community he stewards. He believes that it is not the building but the community within that shapes the dorm’s culture. Speaking to his favorite part of being Stanford’s rector, Brennan emphasized the opportunity “to see the young men of Stanford Hall grow in maturity, in faith, and authenticity.” He continued, “Our Sunday Masses are always a highlight for me—these Masses have shaped and formed me into a better priest and a better man. For many of our guys, they have done the same.”
While some residents are positive about the change, many also lament the loss of the old hall and fear the change in culture that may follow.
Keiran Lobo, a senior and former president of Keenan hall, told the Rover: “While I understand why the change is being made, I would be remiss to not say that it is unfortunate that 70 years of rich history and tradition, from both the Keenan and Stanford side, are going to go away just like that.”
Lobo emphasized the significance of the dorm building as an integral part of the hall’s culture, and touching on his later placement in the hall as a transfer, he remarked, “Coming in as a gateway, I was worried about what dorm I would be put into, but I could not have found a dorm that suited my personality better. While Keenan and Stanford don’t have the best living conditions, and don’t even compare slightly to the newer dorms, this forces the guys to hang out.”
Lobo continued, “While we have a rivalry with Stanford, I truly believe our two dorms have the best culture on campus because we have no amenities, and therefore have to buy into the amazing culture and tradition.” He concluded, “at least dorms like Grace and Flanner are still standing … but I’ll be sad to bring my kids here in 20 years time and not show them my actual dorm. In the end, these dorms feel like that true dorm experience.
As noted in the email announcement from the Office of Residential Life, further details regarding the new dorms will be announced at a later date.
Clare DiFranco is a senior studying accounting and Italian. While she misses the chapel and arch of Lyons Hall, she is availing herself of the fine amenities of Zahm Hall. She can be reached at cdifranc@nd.edu.