Plummeting birth rates, a drop in federal subsidies, and declining enrollment have contributed to the closure of at least twenty small colleges around the U.S. in recent years. This has left vast swaths of land and buildings vacant. The recent closure of Wells College for instance threatens a number of historic buildings at the upstate New York campus, which no longer serve a purpose. To help buck this trend and meet pent up demand, Robert A.M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) recently transformed a former college building in Massachusetts into senior housing. The adaptive reuse project in Brookline happened after Newbury College closed in 2019 due to financial difficulty.The Newbury of Brookline opened last month. The dormitory building once hosted students; now its used for independent, assisted, and memory care living for seniors. RAMSA repurposed an existing historic building, Mitton House, at the former college campus and also designed new ones for it.The new building was inspired by vernacular Boston architecture. (Francis Dzikowski/OTTO)All in all, the Newbury of Brookline is posh, just like the wealthy Boston suburb where it was built. Aesthetics aside, the project by RAMSA offers a potential case study for what to do with other defunct college buildings spread across the country. The senior living community spans 190,000 square feet and contains 160 residential units. Of those 160 flats, about 80 are for independent living, 40 for assisted living, and 40 for memory care.These units coalesce near dining, housekeeping, and flex spaces for structured activities. A salon, lounge, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, library, upper-floor sky bar, and large dining room, with an adjacent great room, are also at the Newbury of Brookline.The Newbury of Brookline has verdant courtyards, and other shared amenities. (Francis Dzikowski/OTTO)The new building mimics the architectural character of the old one. The buildings massings and architectural expression, RAMSA said, is derived from Mitton House, but also the fabric of Brookline and old Boston more broadly. Gambrels, undulating heights, bay windows, and hipped roofs break up the new building into intimately scaled volumes. Meanwhile, one- and two-story porches jut out to enhance the pedestrian experience.The building is sheathed in clapboard siding, just like the old days, as one may expect from a RAMSA project. Entrances from the old and new building spill out into generous courtyards lined with trees. Myriad existing street trees were preserved on the site.The Newbury of Brookline leverages its topography. (Francis Dzikowski/OTTO)Brooklinehas been a place of distinguished design since the days whenFrederick Law Olmsted and H. H. Richardson lived in the neighborhood, Sargent Gardiner, a partner at RAMA, said in a statement. Our design for The Newbury springs from this rich architectural context, emulating its variety, interaction with the landscape, and domestic feel.The design employs Passive House and WELL strategies, RAMSA said. The development team is now targeting LEED Gold certification.