Building Custom Lofts in the Residence Halls

A loft is a wooden structure that elevates a sleeping area in a student room, maximizing the space available. The modular furniture installed in most residence hall student rooms may be set up in such a loft configuration in most cases. In some of the rooms that do not have modular furniture, residents may install a custom-built loft, either by themselves or through an outside commercial vendor. Outside vendors must be registered with University Housing. This registration can be helpful in locating the vendor if something goes wrong with the loft.

Custom-built lofts are permitted only in designated rooms and with the consent of all roommates. Current, specific information about where custom lofts are permitted is available in Outfitting Your Student Room . Residents will be individually advised of the status of their room regarding such lofts when they receive their room assignment. No plans, purchases or commitments to install a custom loft should be made before the room assignment is received.

Because of logistical and other considerations, University Housing does not provide custom loft designs or exact room dimensions.

All custom loft construction and installation must follow the guidelines below.

1. Construction of all custom lofts must be completed by the third Monday in September, and can only be done during posted hours. Residents who wish to build or lease a loft after this deadline must receive permission in advance from their Hall Director. Lofts may not be installed during Winter Term or Spring/summer Term.


2. Construction of custom loft components must be done outside the building to help minimize sawdust and other debris in the halls. Residents are responsible for cleaning all areas used for loft construction, and may be billed if such areas are not adequately cleaned.


3. University-supplied furnishings may not be left unattended and unlabeled in corridors. Unattended furniture is vulnerable to theft and presents a serious hazard in the event of a fire.


4. All University-supplied furnishings must be in the room and in original condition when the residents leave, or the residents will be billed for moving and/or replacement costs.


5. Modular furniture, installed in most resident hall rooms and in all undergraduate apartments, can be configured in a loft arrangement in most cases. Therefore, other lofts may not be built in rooms with modular furniture and no modular furniture may be removed from a room. See Outfitting Your Student Room for more information about modular furniture and where it has been installed.


6. No portion of a University-provided bed frame (e.g., bedsprings, brackets) may be used in construction of a custom loft. Residents who are installing a custom loft should check with their Building Facilities Manager to see if there is room to store the University-provided bed frame in the hall. The residence halls were built during times when it was expected that all University-provided furnishings would remain in the student rooms. Consequently, there is very limited storage space for furnishings in the halls and it is available for bed frames only and on a first-come-first served basis. Most halls have no storage space.


7. Residents are responsible for the safe return of the bed frame stored in the hall, as well as of any University-provided furnishings that they have chosen to store off-site. Residents will be billed for any replacement and/or moving costs for unreturned furniture.


8. Residents must use these fire- and flame- resistant mattress provided by University Housing for the greatest possible protection in the event of a fire. The mattress may not be removed from the room and no other mattresses may be used. Therefore, any loft built in a residence hall room must accommodate a 36” x 80” University Housing mattress. (Be sure to bring linens that will fit this size mattress.)


9. No part of the loft construction may be nailed or bonded to the floor, walls or ceiling of the resident room. The loft may not rest on dressers or other furnishings, or any part of a closet, in a way that may cause damage or deterioration.


10. Structural alterations to the room are not allowed. Residents will be billed for any damages resulting from loft construction or installation, or other unauthorized room alterations.


11. Installation of additional wiring or the alteration of any University-provided electrical apparatus while building a loft is not permitted.


12. Any decorations or coverings applied to a loft must be fire- and flame-resistant.


13. Lofts may not block or obstruct thermostats, heat registers, windows or doors. Doors must be able to open completely with at least 12 inches of clearance. Loft supports and cross beams must clear the ceiling light fixture by at least 12 inches. No L-shaped lofts are allowed.


14. University Housing reserves the right to dismantle a loft in an emergency, and disclaims any liability in the event such action is necessary.


15. Custom lofts and loft materials may not remain in any residence halls during the Spring/Summer Term. Lofts must be removed from student rooms by the Saturday before the last day of Winter Term classes or after Winter Term final exams end. Residents who leave lofts or loft materials in the halls after the end of their contract will be assessed a fee of $100, plus labor costs for removal of the loft.


16. Because of logistical and other reasons, University Housing does not provide loft designs or exact room dimensions.

Questions regarding these loft construction guidelines should be directed to the Hall Director or Building Facilities Manager for your hall.

Revised 6/07