Downs
1517 W. 18th Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
 X  2-PERSON WITH BATH, PRIVATE BEDROOMS |
 X  4-PERSON, 2-BATH SUITE, PRIVATE BEDROOM |
 X  4-PERSON, 2-BATH, SHARED BEDROOMS |
 X  4-PERSON, 2-BATH SUITE |
Click each floor plan to expand the image. Room interior photographs available on photo gallery tab.
The title at the bottom of the floor plan is the description you see during room selection.
General room dimensions:
In the 4-person suites, bedrooms are about 7-7 ½’ x 11-11 ½’ and living rooms 13 ½ x 13 ½.
In the 4-person rooms (non-suites), bedrooms are approximately 11 ½ x 15 ½’.
In the private bedrooms (non-suites), bedrooms are approximately 7 ½ x 13 ½’.
This is a 4-person, 2-bath shared bedroom.
Downs beds are lofted and the dresser fits underneath
Downs Hall features four types of room layout
Bedrooms are furnished with bed, desk, dresser and chair for each resident
Pictured is a 4-person, 2-bath, shared bedroom layout
Friends gather in their spacious suite living room
The hall has large lobbies for studying and small study spaces
Laundry cost is included in your housing rate
Resident exits Downs Hall's South Commons Dining Center
Downs Hall entrance to South Commons Dining Center
Downs Hall north side and west entrance
Recreation area is located on the first floor
Students hang out, and occasionally study together, in large floor lobbies
Study lounge with a view of Stouffer Place Apartments to the west
Spectacular view of the KU campus from the Downs study lounge
Bedroom
Bedroom
South Commons Dining Center
South Commons Dining Center
South Commons Dining Center
Cora Downs, for whom the building was named, was the first woman to earn a PhD at KU in 1924, and also received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from KU. She began as an instructor of bacteriology in 1917, then became a professor and served as a member of the faculty until her retirement in 1963. Dr. Downs was one of KU’s most outstanding scientists. During World War II, she led 40 scientists in a top secret biological warfare project. (Side note: Her grandmother, also named Cora Downs, was the first female member of the Kansas Board of Regents.)
This executive summary describes Central District in which Downs is located
KU's Central District, approved by the Kansas Board of Regents in November 2015, was a building program in the center of campus. In addition to this new residence hall, the project included the 700-bed Stouffer Place apartment building, Burge Union, a parking garage, a utility plant and a 280,000-square-foot integrated science building.
Contributing to Academics:
- Wireless Internet
- Print your class assignments at the "print anywhere" stations in your hall
- Study space on each floor
Your Room:
- Bed can be lofted or bunked
- Extra-long twin mattress
- Desk
- Desk chair
- Dresser
- Closet
- Bathroom
- Trash cans
- Venetian blinds
Your Hall:
- Four room types for maximum privacy.
- 545 coed residents
- South Commons Dining center is attached to Downs Hall
- Living rooms on each floor
- Free laundry on each floor
- Each floor features an image of a different campus location in its lobby. Main floor also contains photos and biography of building namesake, Cora Downs.
- Opened in 2017
Have Fun Here:
- Large lobbies with TV on each floor for hanging out
- Full kitchen, plus Ping Pong and pool tables on the main floor
- Study alcoves on each floor
- Outdoor fields for soccer, football, other sports on west side of building
- Walking distance from Daisy Hill, Allen Fieldhouse, Ambler Student Recreation Center
- Convenient location near buildings for upperclass students, including the Schools of Business, Law, Engineering, and Music
