Lenoir-Rhyne debuts model first-year dorm room

The new model dorm room shows how first-year students can personalize their residential experience at LR.

Prospective students and their families can now tour a fully furnished model dorm room in Fritz-Conrad Hall, LR’s first-year residence. The space is designed to show how students can make their rooms comfortable, practical and uniquely their own.

The double occupancy room is staged as a single for tours, giving prospective students and their families plenty of space to move around and take in the details. From textbooks, notebooks and portfolios neatly arranged on the desk to clothes and dishes tucked into the closet, the space demonstrates how students can make the most of their residence hall room. Soft bedding, Bear-logo décor and plants in the windowsill create a comfortable, welcoming environment.

“We designed the model dorm room to show how comfortable and functional campus living can be,” said Dondi Joyner, manager of the campus bookstore. “Every piece was chosen to make the most of the space, while also giving students a sense of the essentials they’ll need as they start their college journey. It’s a way to demonstrate how the bookstore can help them personalize their space and show their Bear Pride.”

Anastasia Davis, director of residence life, says the room also helps prospective students imagine life beyond the items on the shelves. "This gives students a chance to envision themselves living on campus and see how the residence halls provide both comfort and convenience," she said. "Living on campus is about more than a bed and a desk, it's about community, learning and creating memories that last a lifetime. Standing in the space makes that experience feel real in a way photos simply cannot."

Fritz-Conrad comprises two communal-style dorms — Fritz Hall and Conrad Hall — with shared bathrooms and recently renovated interiors. Rooms feature fresh dark-gray wood-laminate flooring, light-gray walls and in-room AC and heating units for year-round comfort. Visitors can also see the building’s newly updated common areas, which include seating, games and the campus movie theater.

The model dorm room will be added as a stop on campus tours, giving students and families a chance to experience firsthand how a student can make their residence hall room a home.