Welcome to Rodin College House. You could not have chosen a better College House to live in over the next year here at the University of Pennsylvania. With a tradition of being the best College House on campus, so much awaits you here. Rodin is a place that strives for excellence in all that we do.
We pride ourselves on creating a vibrant and diverse community for the students who choose to live in our House.
Most importantly, we are a family of students, staff, and faculty who are striving to make your year in Rodin memorable.
We are home to The Rodin Arts Collective (TRAC), the Rodin Leadership Program (RLP), the Jewish Culture Studies (JCS) program, and the Transfer Living Community (TLC).
Our faculty and staff host terrific programs that allow residents to thrive. You can further your research efforts with Dr. Daniel Gillion’s Research Roadmap. You can also explore the arts and music all over Philadelphia with House Fellows Dr. Mauro Calcagno and Dr. Jamuna Samuel, both faculty in the music department. House Fellow Dr. Lea Ann Matura loves to host programs about finding balance with Penn students' busy schedules and is well renowned for her work in supporting patients with managing their symptoms. If you have any questions or interest in Library Sciences, we encourage you to build a rapport with our House Fellow, Dr. Katie Rawson. Get to know the campus and the beauty and resources of Philadelphia (while enjoying some snacks and fun) with the House Director, Stephanie Burke Lewis, through House Director Programming.
Our student staff helps maintain and create the various traditions in our House, such as Rodin_24, Sunday Brunches, Tower Hour, and Tuesday Grind. Keep an eye on our calendar for more information on these events.
We encourage you to engage with these opportunities, and to become active participants in shaping your Rodin experience!
The Rodin College House staff commits to Be Real, Be Compassionate, and Be Here...Thus, our motto is “To be rather than to seem.” We hope that you can do the same through our efforts!
History
Rodin College House was built in 1971-72, following the University's decision to place a mixture of skyscraper apartment buildings and low-rise dormitories on the newly acquired land between 38th and 40th Streets. T-shaped in plan, with a boldly massed rear facade in which the top floors appear to stand on tall columns of glass, Rodin and its two skyscraper sisters, Harnwell and Harrison, were designed by G. Holmes Perkins, Dean of the Graduate School of Fine Arts, now the School of Design, from 1951 to 1971. Dean Perkins assembled the stellar team of architects to work on the project, including Louis I. Kahn, who propelled Penn to the top of the list of American architecture schools in the 1960s.
Rodin College House is named in honor of Dr. Judith Rodin, who stepped down as president of Penn in June 2004 after a decade-long tenure. Dr. Rodin was directly involved with the renovations to the building in 2003 that provided the House with a stylish new look outside and myriad new amenities inside—all new student and public furniture, sparkling windows, a computer lab, a patio garden, movie screening room, three music practice rooms, dedicated library and study rooms, and a redesigned lobby. The effect could not have been more dramatic, and welcome. Anyone who has seen Rodin College House lit up at night, full of activity and energy, can appreciate how it has redefined the skyline of Hamilton Village. From Center City, you can actually see it glowing.
Rodin College House is configured as an apartment building, with seasonal air conditioning, private baths, and, in many cases, kitchens. Due to the apartment-style layout, Rodin's 700 residents enjoy a great deal of freedom and privacy, balanced by a healthy sense of floor community. They also enjoy spectacular views of Philadelphia and its surrounding area from the upper floors and rooftop lounge. The Class of 1920 Commons dining room and Quaker Kitchen are less than a minute's walk from Rodin, offering convenient options for residents.
Coat of Arms
When the College Houses were created, the office of College Houses and Academic Services sponsored a design competition called the College House Coat of Arms Project. The goal was for each of the College Houses to have its own distinctive coat of arms that reflected its unique character. The coats of arms were designed by residents of their respective houses, and the designs were refined by a professional artist for use on everything from House letterhead to mugs, watches, and other items. Muhammad Zeeshan Amin (College '01) designed the winning design for Rodin College House. Here you can find the description of the arms and learn more about what it symbolizes.
- The three cinquefoils across the top of the shield signify the three high rises. They symbolize the hope and joy of residents, and the maroon color reflects magnanimity.
- The nebuly, or line below the cinquefoils, signifies clouds and air—a tribute to the vistas seen from the heights of the high rises.
- An inverted maroon triangle (a "pile" in engineering terms) dominates the shield, connoting the triangular pattern of the high rises in relation to one another and the engineering "feat" of 24-story buildings.
- A buck stands in the shield's center—reflecting the peace and harmony of Rodin's residents, as well as their readiness to charge ahead.
- A bright sun lies behind the buck, and it is flanked by royal blue triangles that connote loyalty among residents.
- Finally, the crescent compliments the sun and stands for honor. The motto "To Be, Rather Than To Seem" instructs Rodin's residents to draw inspiration from the building's physical stature and become "higher, taller, more graceful and more outstanding" than mere appearances. The motto is in English rather than Latin due to the modernity of the House's architecture.
Our House colors are maroon, royal blue, gold, and maize. You'll see our leadership team and residents wearing these colors at House activities.