In 1960, although 263 students were accepted into the College, 150 were eventually refused admission due to lack of beds. This reflected the need to construct a new dormitory on campus. The new building, constructed to house 220 students, was named St. Ann Hall, and opened in 1962. It allowed for the conversion of Marian Hall dorm rooms to faculty offices. The structure was an almost exact duplicate of Julie Hall and boasted an additional floor. As in Julie Hall, there was a tastefully furnished reception room that welcomed visitors. Moreover, the dormitory contained a recreation room, kitchenettes and a laundry room. Last, but not least, new hair dryers provided the finishing touch. Such social activities that occurred throughout the 1960s, included students supplementing their economic resources by offering sewing services or dry-cleaning services. There was also friendly jesting between St. Ann (and other dormitories) matriculating students and male Northeastern University students who lived in the row houses on Brookline Ave. on the Morris Gordon Property.

 

St. Ann’s Hall acted as a residence hall through the 1974 when a drop in student enrollment and an increase in an energy crisis convinced the College to lease the structure from 1974 through 2002 to Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, Northeastern University, and the English Language School (ELS). Residents at Emmanuel lived in St. Joseph Hall with the College’s student overflow living in St. Ann Hall. In 2002, after the College became a co-educational institution and it reacquired more space to house an increased student population, it ended the leasing relationships of St. Ann Hall. The building underwent renovations that included the addition of a Wi-Fi network (2005).

 

By 2023, St. Ann Hall, was a co-educational dormitory that housed 225 students. It was part of Emmanuel’s first-year residential experience. Each floor housed 40 to 60 residents who share single-sex bathrooms.