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Table of Contents

Tours

  1. Walk, Drive and Fly Tours

    • Campus Driving Tour

      Driving tour with highlights of the NIU DeKalb campus.

      Stops

      1. Convocation Center

        Welcome to Northern Illinois University!

         

        NIU's Convocation Center houses a variety of entertainment and athletics events. The multipurpose facility can seat up to 10,000. Professional concerts, job fairs, trade shows, commencement ceremonies, academic gatherings and more take place here.

         

        The "Convo" also is home court for NIU athletics offices, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Gymnastics,Volleyball, Wrestling

         

      2. NIU Soccer & Track Complex

        On your right is the NIU Soccer & Track Complex, home to: NIU Men's Soccer, NIU Women's Soccer, NIU Track & Field

         

      3. Ralph McKinzie Field

        Directly ahead of you is Ralph McKinzie Field, home to NIU Baseball.

      4. Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex

        Off to your left is the Outdoor Recreation Sports Complex, which includes facilities for: softball, baseball, rugby, flag football, lacrosse, soccer, ultimate Frisbee and Quidditch.

         

      5. Stevenson Towers

        On your right is Stevenson Towers. Stevenson Hall consists of four 12-story towers. Featuring the popular All You Care To Eat food court and Dog Pound Deli, this residence hall complex includes suites with baths, suites without baths, double rooms, and single rooms. 

      6. Grant Towers

        On your right is Grant Towers. Grant consists of four 12-story towers. It is directly across from Eco Park (the West Lagoon) and very close to sports fields and tennis courts. This residence hall complex features many double rooms as well as single rooms.

         

        Grant C Tower was newly remodeled in 2012. In 2013, Grant D Tower was also remodeled.  Due to the popularity of Grant, room availability is limited.

         

      7. New Residence Hall

        New Residence Hall (on your left) is a 1000-bed residence hall complex featuring two residential buildings where students live in small group clusters of 12. Cluster living arrangements offer enhanced privacy, where every bedroom is a single. New Residence Hall offers semi-private restrooms shared with one other student. There is a common space for each group of 12 residents that includes a study area, living room area, and kitchen-like area.

         

        New Residence Hall also features a large community center with a food court style dining area, a recreation facility, and a wireless lounge/gaming area.

      8. Recreation Center

        The Recreation Center (on your left) is free to all students. It offers a variety of facilities including: eight full-size multi-purpose courts, 10 racquetball courts, a 6,000-square-foot cardiovascular room, an indoor track, an activities room, five boxing stations with punching bags, two fitness studios with mirrors, saunas, a TV/snack lounge and outdoor gear rental.

      9. Mary M. Bell Field

        On your right is Mary M. Bell Field, home to NIU Softball.

      10. Academic Buildings

        Ahead of you, are some of NIU's academic buildings, including: Graham Hall and Gabel Hall (Home to the College of Education). Slightly further east are DuSable, Reavis, Watson and Zulauf (Housing classrooms and offices for many of the programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences)

      11. Chick Evans Field House

        Chick Evans Field House (on your right) provides additional recreation facilities for students, including: four multipurpose courts for basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer, and floor hockey; a 3-lane, 1/7 mile jogging and walking track; and a cardio and strength training room.

         

        Additionally, the Field House contains the offices of Wellness Promotion and Military Science.

      12. Neptune Hall

        On your right is Neptune Hall. Residential floors are located in Neptune North, East, and West. Most rooms are double occupancy, using twin beds or bunks. Neptune Central also features the very popular Fireplace Lounge and Trident Grab 'n Go eatery.

      13. Holmes Student Center

        To your right is the 16-story Holmes Student Center (HSC), which offers a variety of restaurants, entertainment options, lounges and Huskie Books and Gear. HSC is also the hub for the Huskie Bus, and contains student organization offices including: Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Student Government Association.

        Orientation and First Year Programs, Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL) and the Ombudsperson offices also are here.

        Holmes also has a hotel with 75 guest rooms and conference facilities including the Duke Ellington Ballroom, Sandburg Auditorium and a variety of other meeting rooms.

      14. Peters Campus Life, Adams, Williston

        Peters Campus Life Building (to your left) contains many of NIU's student activities and support offices. Career Services, Counseling and Consultation Services, Center for Student Assistance and the University Honors Program also are housed here.

         

        To your right is Adams Hall, is home to the NIU Graduate School, Student Support Services, and Testing Services.

         

        Just beyond Adams Hall is Williston Hall. The NIU Undergraduate Admissions office and Transfer Center are based in Williston Hall. Registration and Records, International Affairs, the Chance Program, and Educator Licensure & Preparation offices are also housed in Williston.



      15. Health Services & Public Safety

        The building on your right houses both Health Services and NIU Police and Public Safety. It also contains the Asian American Resource Center, which can be accessed from the south entrance.

         

        Health Services is available to all students, full or part-time, who are registered and have been assessed on-campus tuition and fees. 

      16. Wirtz Hall

        On your right is Wirtz Hall, which is home to the College of Health and Human Sciences. Additional health classrooms and lab space are housed in the adjacent McMurry Hall.

        Students in the School of Nursing, Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology programs gain hands-on clinical experience in NIU's off-campus, state-of-the-art Family Health, Wellness and Literacy Center. 

      17. Anderson Hall and Centers

        On your right is Anderson Hall, home to the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KNPE), which contains: a swimming pool, gyms, physical education labs, dance studios, classrooms, and outdoor tennis courts.

         

        To your left are the Latino & Latin American Studies/Latino Resource Center and Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

      18. Engineering Building

        The Engineering Building (to your right) is home to the College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, including the departments of: Electrical Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

      19. Barsema Hall

        To your right is Barsema Hall, home to the College of Business, which offers programs in Accountancy, Finance Management, Marketing and Operations Management & Info Systems.

      20. Gilbert Hall

        Gilbert Hall (on your right) provides upperclassmen with a living choice in close proximity to arts, engineering, and business classes. This newly renovated residence hall maintains its traditional charm while featuring modern amenities that students desire.

      21. Art Building & Music Building

        On your immediate left is the Art Building (also known as Jack Arends Hall), home to the School of Art and Design and two art galleries: Jack Olson Gallery and Gallery 214.

         

        Just beyond the art building is the Music Building, which houses the School of Music and the Music Library. It also contains two performance halls: Boutell Memorial Concert Hall and Recital Hall.

      22. Still Gym & Still Hall

        Still Gym and Still Hall (on your right) are home to the College of Engineering & Engineering Technology Department of Technology offices and classrooms.

      23. Altgeld Hall

        Altgeld Hall is the oldest building on campus, dating back to when NIU first opened its doors in 1899.

         

        Altgeld contains a variety of offices including: First- & Second-Year Experience, Student Engagement and Experiential Learning (OSEEL) and the President’s Office.

      24. Davis, Faraday & LaTourette Hall

        Off to your right are several academic science buildings, including: Davis Hall, Faraday Hall and LaTourette Hall

         

        Davis Hall is home to the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, the Department of Geography and the Davis Hall Observatory.

         

        Faraday Hall and LaTourette Hall houses the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Physics.

         

        Beyond the local campus, a team of NIU physics professors and students continues to work with physicists from across the country at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in nearby Batavia, Illinois.

      25. Montgomery Hall

        Montgomery Hall (on your right) contains the Department of Biological Sciences. Besides classrooms, offices and labs, Montgomery Hall also houses a multi-floor greenhouse, herbarium, a museum and a woodworking shop.

      26. Psychology/Computer Science

        The Psychology/Computer Science building (on your right) is home to the departments of Psychology and Computer Science, as well as a psychology clinic and labs, and computer labs.

      27. Centers and Public Administration

        On your right are the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center and Center for Black Studies. Also to your right is the Illinois Association of School Business Officials Building, which is home to the Department of Public Administration.

      28. To I-88 or back to the Convo

        If you are heading to the I-88 tollway, turn left at Annie Glidden Road. If you plan to return to the Convocation Center parking lot, continue straight on Lincoln Highway.

         

        We hope you enjoyed your visit to DeKalb and the Northern Illinois University campus.

         

        If you have any questions about admissions or programs at NIU, please contact the NIU Office of Undergraduate Admissions.