The Village at James Madison University (JMU) has long served as a welcoming home for university freshmen transitioning to on-campus living. Originally designed as a cluster of suite-style dorms connected by outdoor gathering spaces, this space is undergoing a significant transformation to keep pace with the university’s rapid growth. Potomac Hall, the newest Village residence hall, is now open to students, completing the first phase of a major redevelopment of this long-standing residential area.
VHB’s engineers and landscape architects supported the design-build team of Moseley, Niles Bolton Associates, and S.B. Ballard Construction. Potomac Hall replaced the former three-story, 205-bed Ikenberry Hall—originally constructed in 1972—with a new five-story, 113,000-square-foot residence hall that now houses 458 students on the same site. The new facility accommodates single and double rooms, study spaces, a recreation room, lounge, Zen rooms, a kitchen, faculty in residence, laundry rooms on each floor, and pod-style bathrooms. The building’s design emphasizes natural light and offers views of The Village’s surrounding green spaces and mature trees, providing students with access to peaceful places for learning.
Through thoughtful design and sustainable practices, this new facility is tailored to meet diverse student needs while promoting environmental stewardship, setting a new benchmark for on-campus living at JMU, and reflects a commitment to enriching student life that goes beyond accommodation.
