Just three blocks from downtown Iowa City, Stanley Hall is located on the University of Iowa’s East Campus. OPN Architects was hired to renovate and refresh student room and lounge in the ten-floor residence hall in a phases over the course of three summers. In the dorm rooms, large closets were replaced by modular storage systems. Other finishes were refreshed, including the flooring in the hallways.

The most dramatic improvement to each floor was opening up the wall at the end of each hall to reveal the lounge spaces that overlook the Iowa River. The main lounge on Stanley’s third floor, as well as the elevator lobbies, will welcome students and visitors with more modern aesthetics.

Another improvement of the residence hall included a survey of existing restrooms and ADA code compliance. The survey identified two single-use toilets that were not ADA compliant, both in regards to fixture selection and clearances. The University elected to include these toilets in the scope of the renovation. Due to the existing building’s layout and construction, it was not physically possible to make the toilets fully accessible for clearances, but by removing existing toilet partitions, increasing the width of the door, and other minor layout items, the conditions were significantly improved. In addition to improving the clearances, new grab bars, toilet accessories, and accessible fixtures were installed. The interior finishes were also updated to match those in the renovated spaces.