University Residence Halls
Illinois State University currently provides ten residence halls that house about 6,000 students. Administered by the ISU's Office of Residential Life, these facilities include lifestyle floors that serve communities of residents with shared interests.
Hamilton and Whitten Hall in South Campus featured lifestyle floors such as Upper-class and Graduate, Student Nursing, and Speech Pathology and Audiology. Constructed in 1959, the facility was named for Alma H. Hamilton, the first recipient of an Illinois State Normal University bachelor degree, and Jennie Whitten, the former head of the Foreign Language Department. Hamilton and Whitten Halls as part of "Southside" campus residence were decommissioned in August 2012. Although no definitive plans have yet been made for their future, there has been discussion of repurposing the buildings for administrative uses.
Atkin and Colby Hall, also located in South Campus, was originally built as female-only dorms in 1962 but were converted to co-ed. They were named for Edith Irene Atkin, Illinois State Normal University mathematics professor from 1909–1940 and June Rose Colby, English professor from 1892–1932. Atkin and Colby Halls as part of "Southside" campus residence were decommissioned in August 2012. Although no definitive plans have yet been made for their future, there has been discussion of re-purposing the buildings for administrative uses.
Haynie, Wilkins, and Wright Hall are located in West Campus, adjacent to Redbird Arena and Hancock Stadium. Also known as "The Tri Towers", they feature floors for ROTC, Wellness, Substance-Free, and Quiet. These halls are the most remote residence facilities on campus and are known for housing a majority of athletes because of their close proximity to practice areas. They were built in 1962 and named for Martha D.L. Haynie, the first female Illinois State Normal University professor, Daniel Wilkins, principal of the Female School Institute of Bloomington in the 1850s, and Simeon Wright, one of the University’s founders.
Hewett and Manchester Hall are located in East Campus. Both are coed, though until recently Hewett was all-female. Each have floors for Art, Business, Communication, Co-Sciences, Curriculum and Instruction, Geo-Environmental, Information Technology, Math, Music, Service and Leadership, Substance-Free, Quiet, and International House. These dorms were recently renovated in 2008–09. Built in 1966, they were named for Edwin C. Hewett, the third University president, and Orson L. Manchester, Illinois State Normal University dean from 1911 to 1928.
Watterson Towers is not only the largest residence hall on campus, it is also one of the tallest student residence halls in the world, and provides the highest vantage point in Illinois between Chicago and St. Louis. Watterson features areas for wellness, quiet, substance-free, and restricted visitation. Built between 1968 and 1970, the facility is named for Arthur W. Watterson, a geography faculty member and chair. Watterson went through a massive renovation from March 2010 through August 2012.
In 2012, the university opened the new Cardinal Court Apartments, home to primarily sophomores. These replaced an earlier complex by the same name and on the same site originally opened 1959. They provide a unique experience for the students by giving them apartment-style living combined with the benefits of university housing. The students enjoy fully furnished apartments with either private or shared bathrooms in each unit. The units with shared bathrooms have a privacy half-wall. The building in secure and locked 24 hours a day. There is plenty of on-site parking, along with a campus shuttle to take students from the Court to closer on campus.
Three major residence halls, Dunn, Barton, and Walker Hall, were demolished in 2008 to provide space for the Student Fitness, Kinesiology and Recreation Center.
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