Durfee Hall, New Haven

Durfee Hall is a historic freshman dormitory located on Yale University’s Old Campus in New Haven. Completed in 1871, it is the second oldest residential building at Yale, following Farnam Hall. Today, Durfee houses first-year students from Morse College, who reside there during their freshman year before transitioning to Morse College proper.

Designed by architect Russell Sturgis, Jr., Durfee Hall was funded through the generosity of Bradford M. C. Durfee of Fall River, Massachusetts. It forms part of a trio of buildings by Sturgis, along with Farnam Hall and Battell Chapel. At its completion, Durfee was described as “large and costly,” but quickly earned recognition for its architectural impact, even being called “the centre of wealth at Yale” by The New York Times and praised as one of the finest dormitories in the country.

Architecturally, Durfee is a standout example of Victorian Gothic style, featuring a façade of sandstone and bluestone, complete with gables, turrets, and towering brick chimneys. Its original roofline and chimneys were lauded for their quiet dignity by American Architect and Building News, and the building’s exterior was recently restored by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc. A major interior renovation also took place in 2016.

Inside, Durfee Hall features communal suites for 6–9 students, arranged around five stairwells with a walk-through layout. About 80% of the rooms are singles—the highest among Yale's freshman housing. Suites have 12-foot ceilings, wood-paneled walls, fireplaces, and views of Old or Cross Campus. The fifth floor, lit by skylights, includes four large connected suites. Most singles have walk-in closets, and like other Old Campus dorms, there are no overhead lights.

Durfee Hall is more than just a place to sleep—it also houses the beloved Durfee Sweet Shop, Yale’s go-to late-night snack store, and the Yale Women’s Center, both located in the basement.