Chicago-based Mary Cook Associates (MCA), a national, award-winning commercial interior design firm, announces it has completed the interiors of The 87, a purpose-built luxury student housing community located in South Bend, Indiana, near the campuses of the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College and St. Mary’s College. Developed by Toll Brothers Campus Living, the fully amenitized 810-bed community welcomed its first residents for the fall 2024 semester.
“Notre Dame’s rich heritage and traditions provided us with an incredible palette of inspiration for The 87,” said Mary Cook, founder and president of MCA. “The result is an experiential design that merges nostalgia with sophistication, paying homage to Notre Dame’s historic and cultural significance while at the same time creating a relevant and vibrant environment for today’s students. The interiors at The 87 not only feel timeless and authentic, but also offer a balanced blend of spaces that support all aspects of student life—from focused study to fun.”
Situated east of the Notre Dame campus on the former site of the Turtle Creek and Campus View apartments, near Vaness Street, The 87 spans 431,000 square feet and features a mix of one- to four-bedroom apartments and townhome units. The community’s unrivaled amenities include a fitness center, tech-enabled study lounges, gaming areas, a content creation studio, a social lounge with coffee bar, a dedicated ride share waiting area, private and semi-private meeting rooms and six resort-style courtyards equipped with grilling stations, fire pits, yard games, outdoor TVs and hammocks.
MCA designed the interior spaces at The 87 to immerse students in Notre Dame’s storied history and renowned athletic programs. The All-Pro Lounge features a wall collage of vintage athletic equipment and memorabilia, including boxing gloves and a fencing helmet, and ceiling trim that mimics the iconic end zone graphics of Notre Dame’s football field. Custom displays throughout the space include framed black-and-white images of campus life, vintage postcards and an explanation behind The 87’s name – a reference to the year 1887, when the University of Notre Dame established its first football team.
In the community’s sophisticated Study Lounge, students have access to a mix of private and group collaboration seating and a collection of Notre Dame yearbooks dating back to 1923 – a tangible connection to the university’s past. For the digitally savvy, The 87’s Content Creation Studio inspires creativity with state-of-the-art podcasting and social media equipment, visually striking backdrops and floor-to-ceiling acoustic insulation. The Tee Box Sports Lounge fosters recreation and entertainment, sporting a pop-a-shot basketball game and a golf simulator, while the 2,300-square-foot, two-story Fitness Center features a collage of vintage Notre Dame pennants and flags.
At the heart of MCA’s design process was an emphasis on providing a range of environments to suit various needs. Large group spaces, semi-private areas and fully private rooms create opportunities for focused study and collaboration and the flexibility to transition into places for relaxation and social interaction. “That diversity and multifunctionality of spaces ensures students feel supported and connected in every part of their academic and personal lives, fostering mental and emotional well-being,” added Cook.
The 87 marks MCA’s third collaboration with Toll Brothers Campus Living on student housing interiors, following the firm’s work on CANVAS, an 826-bed community near Arizona State University, and Lapis, a 1,086-bed community near Florida International University. KTGY Architects with V3 Engineering served as architect on The 87.
