Each residence hall offers an opportunity for students to meet people from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and develop a sense of community within their own building. Professional and paraprofessional staff work closely with residents to provide innovative, creative, social, educational and cultural programs. There are 11 residence halls on campus that house approximately 1,400 students. Each building has its own unique character and maintains its rich history while also assuming the personality of its residents.
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Most of the rooms in the residence halls are double occupancy, but there are some singles, triples, and quads. Each room is equipped with an extra-long, twin-sized bed, dresser, closet, desk and chair for each occupant. There are also ethernet and cable connections for each student. While amenities vary somewhat from building to building, they generally include community kitchens with refrigerators and microwaves, laundry rooms, TV and study lounges. There are also mini computer labs in some facilities.
Stewart Living & Learning Center (LLC I)
The Donald and Isabel Stewart Living-Learning Center, opened in 1983, is named after Spelman’s sixth president and his wife. This residence hall has a conference room and living quarters for visiting lecturers, scholars and artists.
Traditionally, LLC I is the only residence hall that houses first year and upperclass students within the same building. This air-conditioned residence hall provides housing for about 199 residents and has single- and double-occupancy rooms that include cable and WI-FI internet. All spaces within the residence hall are easily accessible by using the elevator.
Traditionally, LLC I houses two unique living learning communities for our residential students. The Bonner Scholars and the Honors Program students are able to live within the same environment that nurtures their unique focus.
The Bonner Scholars Program provides a service-learning scholarship for students who have high financial need and a commitment to service.
The Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program was founded in 1980 and is also housed in LLC I. Ethel Waddell Githii, is interdisciplinary in design recognizing the diversity of our faculty expertise and student creative scholarship.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Hall (Abby)
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Hall provides housing for 127 residents and was built in 1952 with funds donated by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The building honors his wife Abby Aldrich, a philanthropist and renowned patron of the Arts. In 2017, Abby Hall received a renovation which included new paint, flooring, kitchen appliances, computer lab, lounge, and bathrooms.
Abby Hall has spacious double rooms for the residents to live comfortably. Amenities include a computer lounge, student lounge, and updated kitchens at the end of the hallways. This hall is equipped with laundry, vending machines, and a storage room which is available for all residents to use. All rooms are also equipped with cable TV and Wi-Fi internet access.
Dorothy Shepard Manley Hall (Manley)
Dorothy Shepard Manley Hall, built in 1964, honors Dorothy Shepherd Manley, wife of the fifth president of the College, for her assistance in planning the furnishing and décor for the first-year residence hall.
Manley Hall houses 131 residents and has single, double, triple, and quad occupancy rooms which help residents establish a sense of community as well as begin lifelong friendships. Amenities include a full kitchen with a microwave, laundry facilities, and storage room. All rooms are also equipped with cable TV and Wi-Fi internet access. There are also computers available within the main lounge of the residence hall for the residents to use.
Howard-Harreld Hall (HH)
Howard-Harreld Hall (HH), built in 1968, houses 184 first-year students and is named for Clara Howard of the first Spelman High School graduating class and Claudia Harreld of the first College graduating class.
“HH” is the largest first year residence hall on the Spelman College campus. The amenities include a full kitchen for student use, storage rooms, vending areas, and laundry facilities. There are also computers within the main lounge of the residence hall for the residents to use. The residence hall contains single, double, triple, and quad occupancy rooms each equipped with Wi-Fi internet and cable television.
Morehouse-James Hall
Morehouse-James Hall was built in 1901 and was originally named Morehouse North and South. It was remodeled and rededicated in 1974 as Morehouse-James Hall in memory of Henry L. Morehouse, the first president of Spelman's Board of Trustees, and Willis Laurence James, professor of music, director of the renowned Spelman College Glee Club, distinguished musicologist and composer. This residence hall was part of the first significant campus expansion.
Morehouse-James has a small porch and rocking chairs providing a comfortable space for the residents to relax. This residence hall has double and single occupancy rooms that allow 85 students ample storage and living space. The amenities include WI-FI and cable connections in each room, a laundry facility, study lounge, and vending area. The kitchenettes are at the end of each hallway to meet the cooking and food storage needs of each resident.
Johnetta Betsch Cole Living-Learning Center II (LLC II)
The Johnetta Betsch Cole Living-Learning Center II opened in September 1989 and is named after one of Spelman’s successful presidents. She was able to help Spelman College through a difficult financial time and was honored for her efforts by having a residence hall named after her. In addition to housing 201 students, this residence hall is the location of the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
Traditionally, this upperclass residence hall has 121 rooms and is fully air conditioned for our student’s comfort. The laundry facilities, vending area, storage rooms are all spaces within the residence hall that are easily accessible by using the elevator.
Bessie Strong Hall
You may recognize Bessie Strong Hall from the television series, "A Different World." The upperclass residence hall was used as a background for the television program. Bessie Strong Hall was built in 1917 and named for John D. Rockefeller's oldest daughter. After undergoing a complete renovation in 2004, Bessie Strong Residence Hall was reopened as a theme house, Sisters Center for WISDOM (Women in Spiritual Discernment of Ministry).
The residence hall houses 10 students who participate in this living and learning community and features key-card entry, meditation and meeting rooms, laundry and stud/TV lounges. This residence hall has eight single rooms and one double room for the extra comfort of the students as part of this living learning community.
The WISDOM Center serves to provide a holistic educational experience that nourishes the spiritual and ethical development of a new generation of Spelman women who are prepared to be faithfully committed, morally grounded and civilly conscious leaders, serving the church, the community and the world. All of the students, who wish to live in this residence hall, must apply through the Wisdom Center.
Laura Spelman Residence Hall
Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Hall built in 1918, was originally built to house the Home Economics Department. John D. Rockefeller donated the money for the building and equipment as a memorial to his wife Laura. After undergoing a complete renovation in 2012, Laura Spelman Residence Hall was reopened with new upgrades.
Laura Spelman is an upperclass residence hall housing 40 students on the second and third floors. The residence hall also features cable and WI-FI in connections, study lounges, full kitchen, and laundry facilities. Each room has a micro fridge for students’ food storage and heating needs. The ground floor of Laura Spelman contains a computer lab and comfortable study spaces accessible 24 hours a day for all Spelman students.
Laura Spelman houses the Social Justice Program at Spelman College. This program allows 10 residents to live and thrive in a community committed to social justice.
Beverly Daniel Tatum Suites (The Suites)
Traditionally, the Suites provides the opportunity for upperclass residents to enjoy apartment-style living in our newest residence hall. The Suites residence hall was built in 2008 housing 303 students with rooms varying in size from two bedrooms with one bathroom, three bedrooms with two bathrooms, or four bedrooms with two bathrooms. In 2015, this residence hall was dedicated to former president Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum upon her retirement.
Each air-conditioned suite is fully furnished and comes equipped with a kitchenette (microwave, full size refrigerator, and sink), and living room. Students have access to a laundry room and can enjoy study areas, lounges, vending and storage on almost every floor. In addition to student rooms, the building has a dining hall and a parking deck.
Sally Sage McAlpin Hall (McAlpin)
Sally Sage McAlpin Hall was built in 1973. The upperclass residence hall was named for the woman who was then chairperson of the Board of Trustees.
McAlpin has 70 single rooms and 23 double rooms that have a privacy wall. Each room has a personal cooling system that the residents can control. Other amenities include spacious rooms, kitchenettes with microwaves, study/TV lounges, a laundry facility, a vending area, and an elevator.
MacVicar Hall
Historically, MacVicar Residence Hall has served as a practice school for nurses in training. The Department of Student Health Services comprises the bottom floor of MacVicar Hall. This residence hall has eight single rooms, where the residents enjoy camaraderie and peer support. The amenities of this hall include key card entry, cable and Wi-Fi connections, study/meeting rooms, and lounge area for the residents.