The only all-women residence on campus, McCormick Hall was designed by MIT faculty member Herbert Beckwith and was constructed in two phases: the West Tower (completed in 1963) and the East Tower (completed in 1967), currently offering single, double, and triple rooms for 233 undergraduate women. Notable for its glass and limestone façade with vertical limestone fin articulation throughout, McCormick is also known for its warm, welcoming interior spaces.

MIT's renewal of McCormick Hall includes repairs to the façade and infrastructure upgrades for mechanical and plumbing systems as well as emergency power and fire protection. New high-speed telecom infrastructure will be added, and the passenger elevators will be modernized, including the West Tower elevator extension to the eighth floor. Other prominent upgrades include a new lobby experience, courtyard accessibility improvements, and new finishes in the student spaces. In addition to residential rooms, student spaces include penthouse lounge areas with spectacular views as well as spacious living rooms, smaller “date rooms” (as they were once called), and dining facilities. The renewal project also includes enhancements to resident amenities such as the music room, study spaces, communal kitchens, dance studio, and exercise room. All windows on residential floors will be replaced with high-performance triple-pane windows, and resident capacity will be expanded with the addition of 15 beds.

In 1994, a neighboring two-family brownstone was converted for residential use and connected to McCormick; it is now referred to as the McCormick Annex (Building W2) and adds 22 beds to the residence's capacity. While the Annex is not part of the renewal project, its student rooms and spaces will be refreshed, and targeted facility improvements will be made.

Goals of the project include preserving McCormick’s architectural integrity and historic charm while enhancing its important role as a hub of activity for undergraduate women on campus.