Pierson College

Pierson College forms part of the western edge of Yale University’s undergraduate residential campus, along with neighboring Davenport College. The two red brick 1930s James Gamble Roger-designed buildings are updated inside and out by Kieran Timberlake and Marguerite Rodgers. Uniquely, to maximize programmatic offerings to the residents in both colleges, student life spaces are ingeniously inserted into previously unutilized basement levels. Connected and shared by both colleges via a series of contemporary stairs and ramps, students have expanded opportunities for activities, socialization, and study. Restored and brought up to twenty-first-century functionality, each building retains its singular identity, culture, and interior spaces. Pierson’s impressive library with its rotunda and arched ceilings, the paneled common rooms, and the bright dining hall reflect both the historic fabric and the evolution of student living. Residents of both colleges now also have the advantage of what is considered the best student life facilities at Yale.  

  • Architecture: KieranTimberlake
  • Photography: Halkin | Mason Photography LLC
A grand, high-ceilinged dining hall with long wooden tables and black chairs. Large, ornate chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Tall arched windows let in natural light. A piano and a fireplace sit at one end, with paintings and flower arrangements on the walls.
Spacious, elegant lounge with wood floors, plush sofas, armchairs, and lamps. Three people sit separately; one reads, two are near a chessboard. Grand piano and large windows in background. Framed art and rugs add warmth to the classic white interior.
A grand library room with a high ornate ceiling, chandeliers, wood-paneled walls, tall bookshelves filled with books, a long wooden table with green chairs, and desk lamps. A large arched window lets in evening light.
A modern cafeteria with yellow booth seating on the left, a stone wall, a row of tall metal chairs at a counter on the right, and a ceiling with exposed metal panels. The space is empty, well-lit, and features industrial and rustic design elements.