Are Eckstein Tower and Wells Street Hall the same building?

No. They are two separate buildings that together make up The Commons, sharing Commons Dining and common spaces but operating as distinct residence halls with their own front desks and phone numbers.

Does The Commons have air conditioning?

Yes, both Eckstein Tower and Wells Street Hall have AC -- along with Mashuda, Humphrey, and Straz Tower, they are the Marquette halls that offer it.

Can I get a triple in The Commons?

No. The Commons only offers singles and doubles; students wanting a triple or quad should look at Cobeen or Mashuda instead.

Milwaukee, WI · Jesuit university, downtown Milwaukee

The Commons Dorm Checklist 2026

Marquette University

Single and double rooms; common bathrooms on every floor

Verified Aug 18, 2026 · marquette.edu

The Commons, opened in 2018, is Marquette's newest first- and second-year housing. Both have air conditioning, both are singles and doubles only, and both use common bathrooms.

Bed SizeTwin XL (36" x 80")
Under-BedLofting available; height not published
ACYes
On-CampusRequired (1st & 2nd year)

✓ In the room

Twin XL beddeskdesk chairdresserbookshelfcloset/wardrobemodular furnitureair conditioningmirrorstudy lampcurtainsWi-Fibasic cable servicetrash/recycling bins

✗ Not provided

Extra-long twin sheetsblanketsbedspreadpillowpillowcasetowelswash clothsshower shoesrobetoiletriestelevisioncable cordphone line

⊘ Prohibited

Candlesincensehalogen torchiere lampsspace heatersair conditionersfirearmsammunitionfireworksgasoline-powered machinesmotorcyclesmopedse-bikeshoverboardsself-balancing scootersSegwaysdronesair fryerstoasterstoaster ovenshot platesimmersion coilsGeorge Foreman grillscharcoal grillsdeep fryersovensslow cookersrice cookerscamping stoveselectric frying panspower toolsguitar amplifierssubwooferskaraoke machinesdrum setswireless routers

Only single and double rooms exist here -- no triples or quads, unlike Cobeen or Mashuda.
All bathrooms are common bathrooms cleaned by Marquette custodial staff, so no shower curtain is needed (unlike the private-bath halls).
The Commons is two separate buildings; confirm whether your student is assigned to Eckstein Tower or Wells Street Hall before move-in day, as they have different front desks and phone numbers.
The Commons consists of two connected buildings, Eckstein Tower and Wells Street Hall.

Living in The Commons: what to know before you pack

The room

The Commons is Marquette's newest residence hall, opened in August 2018, and it shows in the room design: only singles and doubles, no triples or quads, with communal bathrooms on every floor rather than in-room. Because those bathrooms are custodially cleaned common spaces, Commons residents are the one group in this comparison who do not need to bring a shower curtain. Every resident still gets the standard 36" x 80" Twin XL bed, desk, chair, dresser, bookshelf, and closet or wardrobe, with lofting and ladders available though Marquette does not publish an under-bed clearance height. Air conditioning is standard in both buildings, which sets The Commons apart from most of the other first-year halls.

Day to day

The Commons is two buildings that together make up one community -- Eckstein Tower (about 400 residents) and Wells Street Hall (about 450 residents) -- sharing a large dining hall, private classrooms, floor lounges, a game room, a piano room, study spaces, a kitchenette, and a chapel. Both are co-ed by door and house first- and second-year students, so incoming freshmen share the buildings with returning sophomores rather than an all-first-year class like Abbottsford. Eckstein Tower is home to the Engineering Living Learning Community, which Marquette confirms both on the hall page and in its Living-Learning Communities directory.

Move-in day

The Commons follows Marquette's single, campus-wide first-year move-in day: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with each student reserving a 90-minute timeslot. The optional early drop-off window runs August 23-25 for families who book a 60-minute slot in advance through the Campus Living Portal; a second 60-minute slot on August 26 is used to pick up the room key and move in remaining items. Signups for both open Friday, June 12. Given The Commons' two-building layout, families should confirm in advance which building -- Eckstein Tower or Wells Street Hall -- their student is assigned to before arriving.

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 The Commons.

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 18, 2026

The Commons FAQ

Are Eckstein Tower and Wells Street Hall the same building?: No. They are two separate buildings that together make up The Commons, sharing Commons Dining and common spaces but operating as distinct residence halls with their own front desks and phone numbers.
Does The Commons have air conditioning?: Yes, both Eckstein Tower and Wells Street Hall have AC -- along with Mashuda, Humphrey, and Straz Tower, they are the Marquette halls that offer it.
Can I get a triple in The Commons?: No. The Commons only offers singles and doubles; students wanting a triple or quad should look at Cobeen or Mashuda instead.
Is The Commons a good hall to live in?: That depends on what you're optimizing for, but here's what's verified: The Commons has Twin XL (36" x 80") beds with Lofting available; height not published of under-bed storage, and is fully air conditioned. Marquette University provides Twin XL bed, desk, desk chair, dresser, bookshelf, closet/wardrobe, modular furniture, air conditioning, mirror, study lamp, curtains, Wi-Fi, basic cable service, trash/recycling bins in every room. Compare those specifics against your priorities — or see how The Commons stacks up against Marquette University's other halls above.

Thinking About Living in The Commons Next Year?

If you're choosing housing for next year rather than packing for move-in, here's what's already verified about The Commons: it has Twin XL (36" x 80") beds with Lofting available; height not published of under-bed clearance, and the room is air conditioned. On top of that, the room comes with Twin XL bed, desk, desk chair, dresser, bookshelf, closet/wardrobe, modular furniture, air conditioning, mirror, study lamp, curtains, Wi-Fi, basic cable service, trash/recycling bins; you'll need to bring Extra-long twin sheets, blankets, bedspread, pillow, pillowcase, towels, wash cloths, shower shoes, robe, toiletries, television, cable cord, phone line yourself; Candles, incense, halogen torchiere lamps, space heaters, air conditioners, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, gasoline-powered machines, motorcycles, mopeds, e-bikes, hoverboards, self-balancing scooters, Segways, drones, air fryers, toasters, toaster ovens, hot plates, immersion coils, George Foreman grills, charcoal grills, deep fryers, ovens, slow cookers, rice cookers, camping stoves, electric frying pans, power tools, guitar amplifiers, subwoofers, karaoke machines, drum sets, wireless routers 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 Marquette University’s other halls below.

More Marquette University halls

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

← All Marquette University halls

The Commons Dorm Checklist 2026

Living in The Commons: what to know before you pack

The room

Day to day

Move-in day

See The Raised Bed styled

Everything for your The Commons 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

The Commons FAQ

Thinking About Living in The Commons Next Year?

More Marquette University halls