How many students share a bathroom in Watterson?

Watterson is designed in suites rather than as a traditional corridor hall, and suite residents clean their own restrooms. Housing does not publish the exact number of bedrooms per suite bathroom -- confirm with Residence Life.

What size is a Watterson room?

A Double C room is about 187 square feet for two residents; a Super Single Suite bedroom runs about 140 square feet.

Does Watterson have air conditioning?

Yes. Each room has a window/HVAC unit and Housing lists air conditioning as a Watterson amenity, but campus-wide cooling only runs mid-August through mid-September.

What are Watterson's "Houses"?

Watterson's ten Houses are five floors each and go by letter designations -- A, B, C, D, and E, split North and South. The university renamed them in 2020, replacing the original names of the first ten U.S. Secretaries of State.

Normal, IL · Redbird Country

Watterson Towers Dorm Checklist 2026

Illinois State University

Single, super single suite, double, triple, quad; suite-style layout rather than corridor

Verified Aug 19, 2026 · housing.illinoisstate.edu

Watterson organizes students into ten five-floor Houses. It is designed in suites as an alternative to a traditional corridor hall.

Bed SizeXL Twin (36x80in), bunkable/loftable
Under-BedAdjustable 10-33in; loft kit to 45.5-68in
ACYes
On-CampusRequired (first 2 years out of high school)

✓ In the room

Bed framedesk & chairdresserclosetWi-Filaundry includedmicrowave (per 2 suites)loft kit on requestDining Commons & Subway in buildingfitness centerbasketball courtprinting station

✗ Not provided

Bedding (XL twin sheets)pillowtowelsmini fridgedesk lamp

⊘ Prohibited

Candlesincensehalogen/lava lampstorchiere lampsmicrowavestoastershot platesair fryerselectric kettlescoffee makers (non-Keurig)hoverboardse-scooterse-bikesweaponscinder blocksoutside loftspersonal window treatmentspets except fish

At 28 stories, Watterson relies on elevators for move-in; intentional elevator damage with no identified culprit gets billed to every resident of the building through proration.
Watterson's eight elevators stop only on the third floor of each House, so expect a stair flight or two with your load on move-in day.

Living in Watterson Towers: what to know before you pack

The room

Watterson rooms are suite-style rather than a single long corridor: a Double C room runs about 187 square feet with two bunkable XL twin mattresses (36 x 80 in, listed by Housing as 3' x 6'8"), two desks, two dressers, two closets, and a window/HVAC unit. Beds adjust to seven heights between 10 and 33 inches with no kit needed, or a resident can request a loft kit from the university to raise a bed to a traditional loft between 45.5 and 68 inches for storage underneath. Housing provides loft kits on request and permits no outside lofts, and cinder blocks are banned outright. Furniture is university-owned and movable, but nothing can be disassembled, stacked on other furnishings, or removed from the room.

Day to day

Watterson is Illinois State's tallest building and its largest residence hall: residents build community inside one of ten five-floor 'Houses' -- A through E, each with a North and a South side -- rather than the tower as a whole. The building has its own Dining Commons and a Subway, laundry rooms on the top floor of each tower, laundry included in the room rate, and a shared microwave for every two suites. Floors are designated all-female, all-male, or all-gender. Watterson spans two connected towers and is served by eight elevators that stop on the third floor of each House, and intentional elevator damage gets divided and billed to every resident of the building if no one is identified as responsible.

Move-in day

Fall 2026 move-in at Watterson ran Tuesday, August 11 through Saturday, August 15, with new students selecting a specific appointment window through the Housing & Dining Portal after their room assignment posted. Because Watterson is a 28-story high-rise whose elevators stop only on the third floor of each House, families should plan on a short stair carry at the end of the elevator ride, and a cart or two-wheel dolly (brought from home and taken back out afterward) makes the process much faster. Bring tools and a rubber mallet if a loft kit was requested in advance, since Housing's own packing list calls for one. Roommate names and the final room assignment arrive by email before move-in, and appointment slots fill up, so booking early in the window helps avoid a late Saturday slot.

Room ideas

See The Raised Bed styled

The frame goes up, and the floor underneath comes back as storage.

Styled render — not a photo of Watterson Towers.

Dorm shopping guides: Mini fridge · Surge protector · Storage bins · Mattress topper · Desk lamp · Bedding sets · Twin XL sheets · Shower caddy · Towels · Shower shoes · Laundry hamper · Area rug · Mirror · Over-door organizer · Closet organizers · Fans (no AC) · Loft bed setup

Sources & verification — last checked Aug 19, 2026

Watterson Towers FAQ

How many students share a bathroom in Watterson?: Watterson is designed in suites rather than as a traditional corridor hall, and suite residents clean their own restrooms. Housing does not publish the exact number of bedrooms per suite bathroom -- confirm with Residence Life.
What size is a Watterson room?: A Double C room is about 187 square feet for two residents; a Super Single Suite bedroom runs about 140 square feet.
Does Watterson have air conditioning?: Yes. Each room has a window/HVAC unit and Housing lists air conditioning as a Watterson amenity, but campus-wide cooling only runs mid-August through mid-September.
What are Watterson's "Houses"?: Watterson's ten Houses are five floors each and go by letter designations -- A, B, C, D, and E, split North and South. The university renamed them in 2020, replacing the original names of the first ten U.S. Secretaries of State.
Is Watterson Towers a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: Watterson Towers has XL Twin (36x80in), bunkable/loftable beds with Adjustable 10-33in; loft kit to 45.5-68in of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. Illinois State University provides Bed frame, desk & chair, dresser, closet, Wi-Fi, laundry included, microwave (per 2 suites), loft kit on request, Dining Commons & Subway in building, fitness center, basketball court, printing station in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how Watterson Towers stacks up against Illinois State University's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in Watterson Towers Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about Watterson Towers: it has XL Twin (36x80in), bunkable/loftable beds with Adjustable 10-33in; loft kit to 45.5-68in of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with Bed frame, desk & chair, dresser, closet, Wi-Fi, laundry included, microwave (per 2 suites), loft kit on request, Dining Commons & Subway in building, fitness center, basketball court, printing station; you'll need to bring Bedding (XL twin sheets), pillow, towels, mini fridge, desk lamp yourself; Candles, incense, halogen/lava lamps, torchiere lamps, microwaves, toasters, hot plates, air fryers, electric kettles, coffee makers (non-Keurig), hoverboards, e-scooters, e-bikes, weapons, cinder blocks, outside lofts, personal window treatments, pets except fish isn't allowed. The full day-to-day breakdown above covers the room, the building, and move-in day in more depth.

Still weighing this hall against others? Our guide on how to pick a dorm covers what actually matters, or see Illinois State University’s other halls below.

More Illinois State University halls

Each hall has its own verified checklist — pick yours for room-specific dimensions and packing lists.

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Watterson Towers Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in Watterson Towers: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See The Raised Bed styled

Everything for your Watterson Towers room

Bedding

Fan — optional

Bathroom

Personal Care & Grooming

Self-Care Essentials

Storage & Organization

Closet Space-Savers

Tech & Power

Laundry

Desk & Study

Health & Safety

Comfort & Room

Kitchen & Dining

Misc Essentials

Move-In Day Gear

Watterson Towers FAQ

Thinking About Living in Watterson Towers Next Year?

More Illinois State University halls