On February 4, 1966, the college received a loan of $1,900,000 from the Federal Government which allowed for the construction of St. Joseph’s Hall that was designed to hold 402 undergraduates. It was erected on Brookline Avenue on the plot of land the was the Morris Gordon Property. The property once served as a residence hall for Northeastern University and was the original location of Howard Yueh’s Cafe. Upon its completion St. Joseph Hall was popularly called the “super-dorm” as it contained double rooms, lounges, kitchenettes, laundry, extra study rooms, an infirmary, and recreational facilities for students. Though there was a period when the students turned the kitchenettes into smoking rooms, rather than suffer nicotine withdrawal, because the smoker had not been completed for the dormitory.

 

When the building was dedicated on November 12, 1966, it marked the point when the College shifted from a commuter to a resident campus, as sixty percent (60%) of the matriculating students were housed on campus. Such social activities that occurred throughout the 1960s included students supplementing their income by offering dry-cleaning services and meeting in the dorm to discuss College and national politics. Starting in 1974, as student enrollment dropped and an increase in an energy crisis convinced the College to lease the other dormitories to neighboring institutions and concentrate Emmanuel College resident students, residence life activities and supporting residence offices in St. Joseph Hall. 

 

As the College entered the 1980s, St. Joseph Hall continued to operate the College's health clinic and the Office of Housing.  In 1983, space in the dormitory was leased to Peter Bent Brigham Hospital for its nursing students. In that same year Mark Parenteau of the radical underground radio station WBCN-FM broadcasted from St. Joseph Hall. In addition, during this period, Dean of Students, Maureen Powers helped to create a Tri-Campus Council to unify all students living on the Emmanuel campus and aided to make suites available in St. Joseph Hall for alternative dormitory living arrangement.

 

In the 1987-1988 academic year the Emmanuel College Residence Staff restructured guidelines involving student life in St. Joseph Hall. These rules were made with a purpose: to allow for the peaceful coexistence of Emmanuel residents. Although, alcohol was still prohibited, students were allowed two guests at a time and they could lodge either 3 nights a week or 3 consecutive nights in the dormitory. In addition, resident assistants allowed locked out students into their dorm room after the dorms were locked at 9:00pm. Each resident was allowed three lockouts per semester free of charge. On the fourth occasion a fee of $25 was charged. It also continued to serve as a center for residence life.

 

In April 1993, Sr. Edie Daly, SND, Dean of Students, revised guidelines that would assure a positive and safe living environment in the residences that, by this time, was primarily St. Joseph Hall. The new guidelines included: twenty-four hour security guard protection of residence halls, guest that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol were not allowed on campus, guests who are behaving inappropriately will also be immediately removed from the residence. In addition, no guests may enter the residence hall, including the foyer, unless they are "named" on the after-midnight document and residential life staff will expand the orientation program and make it mandatory for all students at the beginning of each semester.

 

In the 1990s, St. Joseph Hall was used for Alumnae events, aerobics, and Network of Emmanuel Women (NEW) events. In addition, during the restoration of the Administration Building Chapel, mass services were held in the dormitory.

 

By 2005, St. Joseph Hall completed an extensive $10 million renovation, upgrading facilities and updating technology to accommodate the growing expectations and standards of the modern college student. The renovation also added a newly updated fitness center, health services, and offices for student clubs. This aided with the development of programing efforts to create a harmonious community among a diverse environment as the dormitory was a coeducational residence hall and was also home to the international students at the English Language School (for a period in the 2000s).

 

In 2012, St. Joseph Hall was home to the student operated EC Radio (begun by David Phillipo ’05). It featured unknown bands, providing them exposure well beyond the campus as the station broadcasted over the Internet. Faculty members happily volunteered to anchor the microphone, play their own brands of music and comment on current events. Moreover, a music café, dubbed Emma Café was in the basement of the dormitory. 

 

By 2023, St. Joseph Hall was Emmanuel College’s second largest dormitory that housed 410 students across six floors. It was a co-ed residence that primarily houses sophomores, juniors as well as first-year students enrolled in a Science Living-Learning community.

 

Each floor houses forty-five to seventy-five residents who share two, single-sex bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen, and six lounges. St. Joseph Hall also includes amenities that included: study spaces, a technology center, a fitness center and a space for the Theater Arts Department.