Windows with views: Looking at campus from the inside-out

Many incoming freshmen and transfer students won’t get the opportunity to tour campus this summer prior to classes starting due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Preview has moved online, and campus tours are limited to outdoors only. We invite prospective students inside to get a glimpse into what it would be like to work, study, live, and have classes in some of the buildings on campus that offer stellar views of the Quad and athletics facilities.

Watterson Towers room: Stevenson Hall, Hovey Hall, and Julian Hall can be seen out of a residence hall room at Watterson Towers. At 28 stories high, Watterson Towers is one of the tallest university residence halls in the world. The building is designed in suites, which differs from the traditional corridor-style residence halls on campus.

Watterson Towers, Birds Eye View: The entire campus and Bloomington-Normal community can be seen from the top floor lounges at Watterson Towers. The Birds Eye View, located on the north tower, offers a 28-story view of campus. Students can relax or study in chairs adjacent to the windows.

Milner Library fourth floor, southwest study area: Located in the southwest corner of the fourth floor at Milner Library, you’ll find curved bench seating and movable chairs that provide a perfect place to study away from the crowds. The study area overlooks the north edge of campus with the ISU walkway, Schroeder Hall, and the Bone Student Center visible directly out the windows.

Cardinal Court community center: Five minutes from campus you’ll find the Cardinal Court apartments, which offer 227 furnished apartments and on-site parking. The location includes a community center which has study areas, a small movie theater; fitness center; gymnasium, game area with foosball, air hockey, and pool table; a restaurant; and outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts.

State Farm Hall of Business atrium and first floor: When students enter the State Farm Hall of Business, they are greeted by a six-story, 1,000-plus square foot open area. A glass wall on five levels offers a picturesque view of the courtyard. The atrium of the building also serves as the crossroads between the building’s classroom wing on the west side and the faculty/administrative wing on the first, second, and third levels on the  east side. The atrium is filled with tables and chairs and is a perfect place to study or catch up with friends between classes. Four departments are housed within the College of Business: Accounting; Finance; Insurance and Law; Marketing; and Management and Quantitative Reasoning.

Schroeder Hall, third floor: Schroeder Hall is home to the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences; History; Sociology and Anthropology; and Politics and Government. When you’re headed to class, be sure to take the southeast stairs and stop between the third and fourth floors to take in the view of campus through the arched windows overlooking the north side of the Quad.

Hancock Stadium Club, field view: The Hancock Stadium Club is located on the third floor of Hancock Stadium, home of the Illinois State Redbirds football team. The stadium seats 13,000 fans and was renovated in the summer of 2013. Alumni and special guests get the opportunity to watch the football games from the club area, which features high top chairs and a bar-height counter.

Hancock Stadium Club, campus view: The Hancock Stadium Club is a unique venue for any event, from wedding receptions to professional meetings to cocktail hours. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer spectacular views of the Illinois State campus.

Hewett Hall room: Hewett and Manchester Halls are two 18-story residence halls located on the east side of campus. The halls offer themed living and learning communities, including the International House. The rooms offer large windows, many of which overlook the adjacent campus.

Hewett Hall, top floor: Residents of Hewett and Manchester Halls can reserve the top flour lounges for meetings or group study sessions. The Hewett lounge offers a view of Watterson Towers and most of south and east campus.

Science Lab Building: The Science Lab Building was designed as a state-of-the-art facility to support teaching and research in the Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences. Its four-story atrium provides a stunning entry, and the open spaces on each floor provide comfortable places for interaction and conversation. The four-story window seating overlooks the south and east sides of campus.

Center for the Performing Arts: The Center for the Performing Arts is home to an acoustically perfect music hall and theatrical performance hall with state-of-the-art lighting and a fly space drop floor. The building features a two-story glass atrium which overlooks the Quad and offers tables and chairs for students to study or hang out before a performance.

The Atrium at Bone Student Center: Located on the third floor of the Bone Student Center, you’ll find a reception area and presentation room for the Office of Admissions that offers a view of the Quad as future Redbirds begin their campus tours.

Student Fitness Center skywalk: When you’re standing on the Student Fitness Center skywalk facing east, you’ll see the Student Fitness Center to your left, McCormick Hall straight ahead, and the State Farm Hall of Business to your right. The Student Fitness Center offers students 22,000 square feet of cardio and weight training space, four fitness studios, multiple sport courts, an indoor track, swimming pool, and a climbing wall. The glass skywalk is lined with tables and chairs and offers students a beautiful view of southwest campus.

McCormick Hall: From the top floor of McCormick Hall looking west you’ll get a gorgeous view of the Student Fitness Center’s glass facade, including the walkway over University Street, which connects the two buildings. McCormick Hall is home to the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Recreation and Park Administration, and is also the home of Health Promotion and Wellness. Also located in the building is the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Therapy (SMART) Clinic, which provides advanced care for students in the areas of prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation of various orthopedic related injuries.

Fell Hall, second floor: A full story glass window on west side of the second floor of Fell Hall provides an aerial view of Redbird Plaza. The centerpiece of Redbird Plaza is the bronze bust statue of the Battle Bird. The plaza honors Jude Boyer, who was ISU’s former vice president of Student Affairs until 2000. Padded benches line the windows for students to study or hang out before heading into the adjacent School of Communication’s Social Media Analytics and Command Center and the Communication Innovation Center. Fell Hall is home to the School of Communication, University College, Student Access and Accommodation Services, and student-run FM station WZND and TV-10 news.

Haynie Hall, walkway between top floor lounges: At Haynie Hall, students can grab a chair from an adjacent lounge and study near the windows overlooking the athletics facilities and west side of campus. Haynie Hall is one of the Tri-Towers residence halls, along with Wilkins and Wright Halls. The Tri-Towers are adjacent to Illinois State’s Redbird Arena and Hancock Stadium, and are also a short walk to Milner Library and Schroeder Hall via the Main Street underpass.