How Wright Quad and other campus renovations foster connection, comfort, and community

For today’s students, a residence hall is more than a place to sleep—it’s a foundation for comfort, belonging, and meaningful relationships. Thoughtful design can transform a building into a home, helping students find their place and begin shaping the college experience they’ll carry with them for life.

That is why Indiana University Bloomington’s recent renovation of Wright Quad prioritized more than updated systems and finishes. Partnering with Schmidt Associates, the university transformed this residence hall into a modern, inclusive space that supports student wellness, safety, and success.

From historic hall to future-ready residence

As the oldest unrenovated residence hall on IU’s Bloomington campus, Wright Quad presented a significant opportunity. The challenge was to preserve the character of this iconic building while upgrading it for modern student life.

Key upgrades included:

• 967 beds in a refreshed, accessible, and secure environment
• Completely upgraded mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and technology infrastructure
• A new elevator and ADA-accessible student rooms and restrooms
• Reconfigured corridors for improved circulation and safety
• Waterproofing and drainage improvements to protect long-term durability

Community-first design for today’s students

The design philosophy at Wright Quad centered on building community and creating a supportive environment where students feel connected and at home:

• Interactive lounges on the ground floor allow for small group work with focus rooms, and larger gatherings for residence life events.
• Floor lounges created by reclaiming rooms offer more space for collaboration and foster informal interaction and peer connection
• Rooftop lounge provides a unique setting for social engagement
• Renovated laundry center improves day-to-day convenience and accessibility

Students also benefit from a modernized food selection experience featuring:

• All-new kitchen equipment and redesigned food service lines
• A refreshed serving area appearance with improved food options

A new classroom, created from a former lounge space, supports flexible academic programming and brings academic opportunities closer to where students live and gather.

Why community-focused design matters

The data is clear: living in campus housing supports student success. Students who live in residence halls are more likely to:

• Earn higher GPAs
• Persist through to graduation
• Engage with faculty and campus resources
• Feel a greater sense of connection and well-being

Designing for Student Success Beyond Wright Quad

Our experience designing residence halls across Indiana has shown that when student community is prioritized, success follows. These examples illustrate how that philosophy adapts to each campus’s mission:

Schmidt/Wilson Residence Hall – Ball State University

Originally a 1960s-era residence hall, Schmidt/Wilson was reimagined to serve Ball State’s theater and art students through a living-learning model. The renovated hall features updated finishes, amenities, and a passive valance HVAC system powered by the university’s geothermal network. These improvements reflect Ball State’s commitment to sustainability and student comfort.

Jack Beyerl (North) Residence Hall – Ball State University

Home to 496 beds and designed for science, technology, and math (STM) students, this residence hall includes:

• A makerspace with 3D printing, fabrication labs, and a VR development center
• Two-story lounges and study spaces that promote collaboration
• Outdoor amenities like a fire pit and seating areas that enhance the student community experience

Botsford/Swinford Residence Hall – Ball State University

An award-winning, LEED Gold-certified renovation designed for Emerging Media students. Highlights include:

• Audio and video studios and a demonstration kitchen
• Reconfigured lounges for social and academic use
• High-efficiency HVAC systems, including displacement ventilation and passive beams to enhance comfort and air quality

Designing homes that drive success

Wright Quad’s renovation was about more than bringing an aging building up to code. It was about creating a place where students thrive—academically, socially, and personally.

At Schmidt Associates, we are honored to work with institutions that see residential life as an integral part of the student journey. Through collaborative planning, expert engineering, and purpose-driven design, we create living environments that feel authentic to each campus—spaces that prioritize student well-being and make success more accessible.

Interested in how Living Learning Communities support student outcomes?
Every project we undertake is an opportunity to design environments where students live, learn, and belong. Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, Schmidt Associates helps institutions create residence halls that turn student housing into student success.