Then and Now: See How University of Iowa Dorm Rooms Have Changed
CURRIER 1950s/2026
Right: PHOTO COURTESY UI LIBRARIES SPECIAL COLLECTIONS Left: Neon name signs, string lights, and pink accent pieces add to a modern-day Currier room. Right: Similar to today, students cover their dorm room walls with meaningful art and photos.
Many students fly the coop to live independently for the first time in one of the University of Iowa’s 11 residence halls. UI Housing’s latest Amazing Room Contest winners rule their roosts—and reveal that minimalistic décor has gone the way of the dodo.
Today’s hawks’ nests showcase creativity through color-coordinated bedspreads, neon signs, and extensive wall art. TV lounges are long gone, as students stream their favorite shows and play video games from the privacy of their own rooms.
Beyond students’ décor decisions, the residence halls are also adapting to meet students’ needs. The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved a $20.3 million project beginning this summer to convert communal restrooms to single-user bathrooms in Burge Hall. Old halls like Quadrangle have been demolished, and new halls have opened, including Petersen Hall in 2015 and Catlett Hall in 2017.
No matter which residence hall a student selects or how they choose to decorate their room, UI Housing aims to make every Hawkeye feel at home.
QUAD 1948/HILLCREST 2026
Right: PHOTO COURTESY UI LIBRARIES SPECIAL COLLECTIONS Left: This black and gold-themed room highlights Hawkeye spirit, complete with a yellow couch for watching movies and playing video games. Right: Bunk beds are a blast from the past, even in four-person rooms, as most present-day students opt for separated loft beds.