Originally gifted to the Colleges in 1943 for use as a women's dormitory, Houghton House has since become the home of the
Art Department. The first floor consists of gallery space and two multi-media equipped seminar classrooms. The second floor is used primarily as office space for faculty. The third floor of Houghton House hosts the
Architectural Studies program, renovated in 2009 by a generous gift from Ridgway H. White '02.
The expansive facilities include two architectural design studios; a computer lab outfitted with graphic and digital drafting software, a large scale plotter, scanners and color printers; a library for sustainable materials samples, design and urban planning periodicals, and reference books; a 'working gallery' for the display of current student work; and a critique room for student presentations, space and equipment for professional studio photography sessions, and special events such as film screenings and architecture student society (American Institute of Architecture Students) meetings.