McMahon Hall: “The McMansion” of North Campus

For many Huskies, McMahon Hall isn’t just a dorm , it was home, a community hub, and the backdrop to countless first-year memories. Built in 1965, this 11-story landmark became one of the most recognizable residence halls on campus and the only one designed around a cluster living system, where small groups of rooms shared a living room, bathroom, and balcony, making connection inevitable.

Affectionately nicknamed “The McMansion,” McMahon dominated the North Campus skyline with its bold concrete exterior. But inside, it told a softer story: balcony sunsets, hallway conversations that stretched past midnight, and shared spaces that turned strangers into friends. It was here that many students, myself included, learned what it meant to live independently for the first time, surrounded by people who quickly became family.

McMahon was originally meant for graduate students and was named after the McMahons, Edward, professor of history and Teresa, professor of Economics. Like its bold exterior McMahon was built at a time where UW was thinking big.

McMahon’s cluster system was more than architectural innovation; it shaped how students experienced college life. Semi-private lounges fostered late-night study sessions, spontaneous hangouts, and friendships that lasted well beyond freshman year. These small communities within a massive building gave McMahon its unmistakable heart.

As McMahon Hall prepares to close this chapter of its history, it leaves behind more than concrete and balconies, it leaves behind generations of stories. For those who lived here, it will always be remembered as the place where college truly began. Large in structure, unforgettable in spirit, the McMansion will live on in memory.

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