This fall, Magis Hall opened its doors for the first time, welcoming incoming sophomores for the 2026–27 academic year. Located at the corner of 21st and Burt Streets, directly across from the Creighton University School of Dentistry, Magis Hall offers new study locations, amenities and “third space” areas for students to gather and unwind. 

From the moment you walk into the residence hall, escaping the blistering September heat outside, you’re greeted by the classic blue-and-white tones that dominate the décor, firmly designating the building as something that could have come straight out of the Creighton fight song. Directly ahead is the entrance to the residence rooms, while a hallway to the left leads to the community kitchen and its amenities, including a double-door refrigerator, oven and access to an outdoor patio. 

To the right, however, is Magis Hall’s Aviary. 

The Aviary is the crowning jewel of Magis Hall. Before entering through the single glass door, a sign explains that the space is designed to help Creighton students “unplug from their devices and connect with each other.” The space was also designed to mirror the new Creighton Quad, which is still under construction. 

“When we designed The Aviary, we wanted it to be a space where students felt a warm invitation to be present in the moment, disconnect from devices and really talk with and connect to one another,” Senior Director of Campus Living Adam Stafford said via email. “We are seeing that younger generations are really craving IRL – ‘in real life’ – experiences, and we wanted to design a space where students felt grounded in that, with the natural elements, the warm lights, the wooden accents that filter light in interesting ways, and yes, the audio as well (which also helps folks maintain their own conversations separately from other groups).” 

Inside, green leafy plants — both real and painted — line the walls and surround the room’s most striking feature: tall wooden birdcages that sprout from the floor. The structures divide the space into areas that feel paradoxically interconnected yet privately enclosed. Of all the features in the new residence hall, the Aviary is perhaps the most distinctive. 

“My friends love using it, and I totally picture myself using it more as the year goes on,” said Creighton College of Nursing sophomore Kally Yoshimura. 

Like the other rooms in Magis Hall, Yoshimura’s dorm is designed in an apartment-style layout, complete with a full kitchen, living room, ample storage, and a shared bathroom. Each apartment contains two bedrooms, with two students assigned to each room, housing four students in total. 

For College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Alison Cox, living in Magis has been a mixed experience. While she appreciates the opportunity to personalize the apartment, she said some of the building’s newer amenities have come up with their own problems. 

“Living in Magis has been an enjoyable and new experience for our room. We have had the opportunity to decorate and rearrange furniture to create a homey environment,” Cox said. 

Cox said her apartment kitchen, which includes updated appliances, has been an added benefit. However, she said students have also encountered maintenance issues throughout the residence hall. Cox pointed to a lack of refrigerator shelves in her room, saying residents have resorted to using bins to store their food while waiting for replacements. 

“For a new residence hall, it’s disappointing,” Cox said. 

Cox also said the size and layout of the apartments can make sharing the space with three other students difficult. Compared with other sophomore residence halls, she said Magis provides less overall living space despite having dedicated kitchens and living rooms. 

“Ultimately, Magis seems designed to accommodate as many residents as possible rather than providing a comfortable living environment for students,” Cox said. 

The apartments are accessed through a pair of double doors behind the welcome desk, leading to an elevator system that connects all five floors of the residence hall. According to Creighton’s website, Magis Hall houses 409 sophomores in total. 

Between the residence rooms on each floor, students can find smaller study spaces tucked into the ends of the hallways, illuminated by natural light from nearby windows. Larger lounges are also located throughout the building, giving students additional spaces to gather and build a sense of community within the residence hall. 

At the top of the five-story building, students are met with views extending east toward the Creighton softball field and the rest of Omaha. Looking west, the Creighton School of Dentistry stands across the street, offering a reminder of Magis Hall’s position between the university and the wider Omaha community. 

For a residence hall still finding its place on campus, Magis Hall already feels less like a collection of rooms and more like a space designed around how students actually live: studying, gathering, cooking, relaxing and, perhaps most importantly, finding a place to connect.