Taylor University - Campus Facilities - Residence Halls

Residence Halls

Bergwall Hall was named for Evan Bergwall, Sr., president of Taylor University (1951-1959). It was first occupied during the fall semester of 1989 and currently houses 195 students—women on the third and fourth floors and men on the first and second floors. Each floor has a lounge and study facilities, and each room has a private bath.

English Hall, on the far south end of campus, is a women’s residence hall housing 224 students and opened in 1975. It is named for Mary Tower English, spouse of one of Taylor’s most distinguished graduates. English Hall provides private living room areas as rooms are arranged around a suite that is shared by 8-12 women. It is of a unique compartmental brutalism architecture.

Gerig Hall, immediately next to English, is a four-story co-ed residence hall for 96 students. Constructed in 1971, this hall is arranged in a suite-style similar to English Hall. Women live on the second and third floor and men on the fourth floor. The hall is named for Lester Gerig, a long-time University trustee and Taylor University benefactor.

Olson Hall, named in honor of long-time and distinguished history professor Grace D. Olson, was constructed in 1966 and is the largest residence hall (in terms of housing) on the campus with 300 beds. The hall underwent major renovations between 2006 and 2008. The hall is arranged along a typical corridor with a shared common bath. Olson is mirrored by Wengatz Hall, named for alumni and pioneer missionary to Africa John Wengatz, houses 266 men.

Haakonsen Hall was constructed in 1975 as the student health center. The building is named after medical care provider Lily Haakonsen who was employed by the University. In 2006 it was renovated and repurposed as housing for 16 upperclassmen.

Morris Hall, colloquially referred to as “Sammy,” is named in honor of late 19th century African student Samuel Morris. Completed in the late 1990s, it is the University’s most modern large scale residence hall and its largest in terms of square feet. It sits on the northeast corner of campus and houses 286 men. It is the third building named after Morris, the second being demolished in the mid-1990s.

Swallow Robin Hall is the oldest residence hall and third oldest building on campus, having been completed in 1917 by Samuel Plato. and then remodeled and restored in the fall of 1990. Silas C. Swallow and his wife (maiden name Robin) financed a major portion of the original construction cost for the building and asked that it be named in honor of their mothers. The hall was deisgned by Samuel Plato, a notable architect of the early 20th century.

In the past three years, the University has added two new off-campus housing apartment halls on the north side of campus. The 19,167-square-foot (1,780.7 m2) Campbell Hall, constructed in 2008 and opening that fall, is named in honor of Walt and Mary Campbell. It is located on the northwest edge of campus and consists of fifteen apartments housing 60 upper-level students in an apartment-style setting. The larger Wolgemuth Hall opened in fall of 2011 and incorporates the architectural style of Samuel Plato. At 35,970 square feet (3,342 m2) it has room for upper-level 92 students and is named after Sam and Grace Wolgemuth.