A Home Away from Home

A Home Away from Home

By George Retelas, Director of Media Marketing, Enrollment and Athletics

1927 Menlo’s first dorm was a leased house in Palo Alto, from which 27 young men commuted to campus via mini-bus. Fast forward to September 2022, when some 287 students moved into the new $27 million John Arrillaga Residence Hall, the first such building on campus in over 45 years. The new dorm features ADA compliance and gender Inclusivity as well as study rooms, game rooms, and lounges on each floor..

One fall afternoon a newly accepted applicant arrives for their campus tour with their parents. The student, a local high school senior, is excited to explore our new residence hall. While we do introductions in the Admissions lobby, a large photo of the new dorm is behind us. I hitch a thumb at it, “C’mon, let’s go check it out.” We walk outside and are immediately greeted by a massive 3-story glittering wall of windows that stretch all the way down toward the center of campus. “There it is!” I turn around and notice the family taking in the view.

The parents have a ton of questions, but before I can answer them I notice two students holding grocery bags approaching the residence hall entrance. As I hold the door open, I ask if they would like to show off their dorm room to our visitors. The roommates are thrilled, but ask us to swing by in 15 minutes so they can “spiff it up.” They dash off down the hallway, swinging the bags as they go. I half expect kombucha and Pop-Tarts to fly out as they bolt inside their room. By the time our group catches up, I hear the commotion of organizing in-progress to the tune of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen.” (Continued on page 41)

We take the elevator up to the third floor to see the Theater Room, where the rambunctious sounds of a Mario Kart tournament greet us in full force. A group of students are piled on the “spacey” looking furniture with controllers in hand, eyes locked on the big screen, their enthusiasm at level ten. One of them quickly swivels their head to the incoming freshman, “You can jump in on the next round!” Knowing that we could be waiting here awhile, I tell the group kindly, “Maybe next time.” The parents are appreciative, and change the subject by asking how students do laundry, something they feel their teenager might struggle with. I reassure them, “It’s a lesson learned best when not living at home.”

We head over to the laundry room, where rows of brand new washing machines and dryers stand ready. A student is preparing a load as we enter. I ask if they wouldn’t mind showing our guest how to do laundry. “Of course! It’s super simple,” the student says, as they turn toward my guest. “Here, let me show you.” I take a few steps back and join the parents as we look on with amusement. At that moment I sense that the parents realize their child will do just fine here. I thank our student ambassador for the demo and bring our group back down the hallway for the dorm room visit.

By now we’ve reached a new song on their Spotify playlist, and it’s definitely from Mamma Mia! We knock and the door swings open. The vaulted ceilings are adorned with elegant streamers that accentuate the room along with LED lights that act as crown molding. On either side are manicured bedding, each piled high with pillows in the most magnificent arrangement. We marvel at the Ikea-inspired showroom setting they have created by utilizing every space for a specific purpose. I could see the soon-to-be student imagining how they will decorate their room. We thank the roommates for the splendid visit to their place and make our way outside to see the rest of the campus.

Later as I was heading out of the Admissions office, I looked up at Arrillaga Hall with the night sky cast behind it. Scattered among the three-stories of windows was a brilliant assortment of rooms pulsating with the colorful glow of lights. I smiled as I walked off toward the parking lot to head home, knowing that a whole community of students were creating memories in their new home here at Menlo.