Atchison Hall reopens as newly renovated home for Honors students

This fall, Atchison Hall will serve as the dedicated home for students in the Irvin D. Reid Honors College, creating a living-learning community designed to bring academics, connections and campus life together. Atchison Hall has been recently renovated, and the Honors College Living Learning Community will welcome the space's first residents since 2020. More than 400 students are expected to call Atchison Hall homeduring the academic year.

"Our students' success is shaped not only by what happens in the classroom, but by the spaces where they live and learn together," said Elena Past, interim dean of the Honors College. "Atchison Hall will provide Honors students with a shared residential space that supports connection, intellectual curiosity and a strong sense of belonging throughout their undergraduate experience."

Through the Office of Housing and Residential Life, the exclusive hall for Honors students offers a close-knit environment where peers can connect beyond the classroom and build relationships that support their academic and personal goals. Named after longest-serving member of the Wayne State Board of Governors, Leon H. Atchison, the residence hall opened in 2003 and honors a legacy of leadership and commitment to student success at the university.

The Honors College Living Learning Community adds to a host of strategic living-learning opportunities designed to support student success, including the First Year Residential Experience (FYRE), located in all residential buildings, and the STiLE Residential Learning Community at The Thompson Home for College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts students.

Students can also expect stability in housing costs, as 2026-27 rates will remain the same - marking the fourth straight year without an increase and helping make on-campus living more accessible and budget-friendly.

"Partnering to create a dedicated space for Honors students allows us to intentionally align the residential experience with their academic rigor, accomplishments and future goals," said Daisy Holley, director of housing & Residential Life. "As we look toward the 2026-2027 academic year, we are excited to establish Atchison Hall as a home for dynamic co-curricular residential opportunities, where students can build a community that meaningfully bridges the gap between the classroom and their home."

Atchison Hall features single, double and triple room options, each featuring private, in-unit bathrooms for added privacy and convenience. The hall also includes air conditioning, in-building laundry facilities and a staffed 24-hour reception desk. Beyond the rooms, students will benefit from built-in peer mentorship, shared study spaces on each floor and programming that encourages collaboration, engagement and a strong sense of community.

With self-selection options opening May 26, admitted Honors students are encouraged to explore their options early, as space is expected to fill quickly. Virtual tours are also available, offering an early look inside the space.

Luisa Saito, an Honors College peer mentor and senior biology major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences said what sets Atchison apart isn't just the space, but the culture students create.

"From my experience living on Honors floors, there is a distinct culture that sets this community apart," she said. "I would strongly encourage incoming Honors students to consider living in Atchison Hall because of the immediate sense of community and access to support it provides. Transitioning from high school to college can be overwhelming, but this environment allows students to enter a space where connections, guidance, and resources are already established."

Learn more about Atchison Hall and the Honors College Living Learning Community here. Email Rachel Pawlowski at [email protected] with any questions about becoming a part of the Honors Living Learning Community.

By Darlene A. White