Southwestern University Unveils Two New, State-of-the-Art Residence Halls
As part of the University’s $120 million investment in the student experience, Southwestern officially opened two brand new, state-of-the-art residence halls prior to the start of the Spring 2026 semester.
Before classes began this spring, Southwestern University celebrated a major milestone in its commitment to providing students with the best possible collegiate experience with the official unveiling of the new Jessie Daniel Ames Hall and Ella Sedwick Hall residential facilities.
Both halls were constructed with the goal of blending living areas with outdoor spaces while emphasizing areas for student collaboration. Located on the eastern side of campus, Jessie Daniel Ames Hall, named for the 1902 SU graduate and nationally prominent civil rights activist, features a fitness center and yoga/Pilates studio on the first floor, large lounge and collaborative spaces on the second and third floors, and study nooks throughout the building.
Jessie Daniel Ames Hall is located adjacent to the new Dorothy Perry White Welcome Center, where residents will have convenient access to a new cafe, art gallery, theatre, and outdoor terrace.
Centrally located next to the McCombs Campus Center, the new Ella Sedwick Hall includes large lounge and collaborative spaces on the first floor, an open-air terrace on the second floor, and several outdoor areas to study and relax.
The namesake of the new residence hall, Ella Sedwick, has greeted and supported generations of Southwestern students for more than 25 years through her work with Aramark and Sodexo in the University’s Mabee Commons Dining Hall. The personal connections she nurtures have significantly impacted the college experience of countless students, faculty, staff, and visitors, fostering an atmosphere of inclusion and belonging through her genuine care and interest.
As part of the University’s commitment to student retention and development, Southwestern began implementing a three-year residency requirement this fall. Together, Jessie Daniel Ames Hall and Ella Sedwick Hall add nearly 300 beds to Southwestern’s campus, providing enough space for all first-year, sophomore, and junior students to live on campus.
Over the semester break, students from Ruter Hall and Clark Hall had the opportunity to move into their new digs. Both Jessie Daniel Ames Hall and Ella Sedwick Hall feature suite-style living arrangements with two students assigned to each room. Rooms are paired into suites, sharing a jack-and-jill style bathroom, an upgraded amenity from the communal bathrooms found in the older residence halls.
The new residence halls are part of Southwestern’s $120 million investment in a series of construction and renovation projects that underscore the University’s commitment to advancing the liberal arts in the 21st century.
In addition to the opening of the University’s new welcome center and two new residence halls, renovations to Southwestern’s historic Mood-Bridwell Hall and A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center were recently completed. Additionally, work recently began on a new multi-purpose sports complex that will bring football back to Southwestern’s campus for the first time since 1950.
Southwestern University published this content on January 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 23, 2026 at 22:21 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]
