Building a Home for Scholars

Scholars Grove will provide convenient on-site housing for research fellows as they engage with The Huntington’s world-renowned collections. The new residential complex will feature seven one- and two-story buildings with a total of 33 residential units. In addition, there will be a centrally located commons building—named after Wendy Munger, a Huntington Trustee emerita and daughter of Charles Munger—that will foster interdisciplinary exchange and collaboration.

“Scholars Grove is the most exciting thing to have happened to the Research division in decades,” said Susan Juster, the W.M. Keck Foundation Director of Research at The Huntington. “It will be truly transformational.”

Meeting a Critical Need

The need for Scholars Grove has grown as rising living costs, academic funding cuts, and shifts toward contingent appointments have made residential research opportunities increasingly rare. These challenges have disproportionately affected early career scholars and Ph.D. students, limiting their access to primary source materials. “This new landscape makes it hard for a lot of young scholars to get residential fellowships,” Juster explained.

She noted that while The Huntington has digitized more than 500,000 collection items, these represent only a fraction of the institution’s vast holdings. By providing housing, Scholars Grove ensures that researchers can fully immerse themselves in their work through direct access to the grounds. The site will also provide ample parking and reduce traffic by eliminating the need for daily commutes.

“The Huntington is really committed to the residential model,” Juster said. “It’s the best way for scholarship to advance. You have access to these amazing collections, and you can engage with other scholars across disciplines, building relationships that lead to unexpected and important collaborations.”