Pullman, Washington
Two of Washington State University’s most iconic residence halls, Rogers Hall and Orton Hall, received significant interior upgrades over the past two summers, giving these once tired spaces renewed life, energy, and newfound popularity among students.
Each hall stands 12 stories tall on the southern edge of campus, and together they house almost 900 students, making them among the largest residence halls on campus. Built in the early 1960s, they are also among the oldest living options on campus. “Knowing we had a limited budget, we decided to focus our renovations on the main lobby areas, as well as the community spaces on the 12th floor where we could impact the most students,” says Meg Autrey, director of residence life and housing. Former residents frequently talked about not feeling part of the larger WSU campus, so when the decision was made to allocate about $650,000 for improvements, that became the renovation team’s highest priority. “Rogers Hall houses mostly first-year students, and we wanted them to feel welcomed as new Cougars, as if they have arrived home,” says Roxy Holden, project manager and interior designer for Auxiliary Facilities Services. “When they walk into the building now, they are immediately greeted by big, bold wall graphics depicting WSU’s colors, the spirit mark, and iconic campus scenes.”
The student affairs marketing team designed the graphics and played a key role in transforming both buildings. The renovations, which incorporated student feedback along the way, included new entry doors, new or refurbished furniture, and new window spaces in the lobby. Even the elevator corridors on the first floors received upgrades. Holden found the original hand-sketched blueprints of Rogers Hall and used them to create an impressive wall graphic, giving the area a fresh look while paying homage to the building’s history.
Windows from the top floor provide a nearly 360-degree view of campus and the surrounding community. The renovations retained the original large circular fireplaces in both buildings, and electrical inserts were installed to provide a warm ambience. The bench seating around the fireplaces sports new modern-looking fabric, and movable tables and chairs can accommodate student groups of all sizes.
Orton Hall assumes a more sophisticated feel to accommodate the tastes of its residents who are 19 and older. In the adjoining piano spaces, TV/game rooms, and study room, wall graphics include sketches of plants and trees common to the region. An image of a large daffodil greets students as they enter Orton Hall, along with signage that explains how Charles W. Orton, the former WSU regent for whom the building is named, was an aficionado of the flower and founded a festival in its honor.
The remodel also improved the hall director’s apartments, which were gutted and redesigned to fit modern lifestyles. Upgrades include new furniture and flooring, improved lighting, and a rebuilt kitchen that includes a dishwasher. Autrey noted that the renovated apartments are already having a positive impact on staff recruitment and retention.
According to Autrey, the Rogers and Orton projects demonstrate that smaller renovations can have a big impact, and students want to see more of them. WSU’s student-led Residence Hall Association passed a resolution in 2023 calling for additional incremental improvements in other older campus living spaces and is helping to decide what spaces are next in line. “These student leaders felt so strongly about it that they supported a two-percent rate increase to exclusively fund these projects in the future,” says Autrey. “It will generate about $750,000 for us next year, and we are very excited to see what improvements we’ll make next.” —Steve Nakata
Spotlight is your chance to show off recent construction or renovation projects. Member institutions and architects are encouraged to share details about hall features, related programs, and how they connect to the overall housing mission as well as photographs of the completed building. Share your success stories.