Armstrong Commons
Inclusivity | Inquiry | Integrity
Second to None
“The thing I love most about the Armstrong community are the opportunities that it presents for students to get involved throughout the year. Everything from leadership roles within Commons Council to teamwork during intramural games provide experiences for students to grow individually while bonding together as a whole community.”
“The best tradition at Armstrong Commons is that we get to have a water balloon fight with our arch nemesis: Crum Commons. Whenever I share this tradition with friends who live in other commons, they wish they could be part of Armstrong.”
What you can expect
Armstrong-ing
You've heard of boulevarding. Armstrong has Armstrong-ing. Friday afternoons in the fall, we head out into our quad, grill up a delicious snack, play spike ball, and throw a Frisbee or a football. This tradition brings together our residents and highlights our value of inclusivity.
Water balloon battle with Crum Commons
You see, our neighbors across the way at Crum Commons are kind of like our younger siblings. We settle our sibling rivalry with thousands of water balloons after Stampede Kick-Off each August. Without a doubt, we won last year, and we know that with your help, we will emerge victorious once again. The bonus? When the battlefield has cleared, many Armstrongers meet friends that last a lifetime at the post-battle social.
Serve where you live: Engage Dallas
Engage Dallas is a place-based community engagement initiative via SMU’s Residential Commons to address community needs focusing on South and West Dallas. The initiative is a long-term, university-wide commitment led by students to partner with local residents, organizations, and other leaders to positively impact the community. There is equal emphasis on campus and community impact stemming from the initiative.
In Armstrong Commons, we focus on Homelessness as a community need in Dallas. Armstrong students address this by collaborating on service events and activities with local partners, The Bridge, Austin Street Center, and The Stewpot, to directly help those most in need. Our students who serve gain a broader understanding of current social problems, build community with both the city and their peers, and can earn their Community Engagement and Civics & Individual Ethics proficiencies required for graduation. Engage Dallas cultivates unique and enriching experiences for SMU students to explore and serve Dallas!
Questions? Email your Armstrong Engage Dallas Student Director, Lilly Chapman at lillyc@smu.edu.
Get a sense of the community
Get a feel for all that Armstrong Commons has to offer by scrolling through the photo gallery or viewing the video. If you prefer, check it out for yourself by visiting campus, or take an online 360°room tour.
We've got a lot to offer
Amenities
Fully furnished rooms- Furniture (per resident): desk, chair, bed, & dresser
- Wired and wireless internet
- Free on-site washer/dryers
- ADA-compliant rooms available
- Electricity, water, sewer, & recycling/trash service included
- TV Lounge
- Movable furniture
- Study rooms and spaces
- Music rehearsal space
- Community microwaves
- Community printer
- Walk or bike to class
- Nearby parking available on campus
- Easy access to dining and fitness activities in the Dedman Recreation Center
- 24-hour study rooms and spaces
- Faculty-in-Residence
- Peer Academic Leaders (PALs), Honors Mentors, and Student Wellness Champions
- Educational experiences
- In-Commons classroom
- Professional, on-site maintenance
- 24-hour, on-call staff
- Card-controlled building and room access
- Security escorts available
- Roommate matching available
- Adjacent bicycle racks
Sample floor plan
Community bath double room
Room and furniture dimensions
Square footage ranges- Typical square footage ranges from 180-250 sq.ft.
- Desk: 2'6" H x 4' W x 2' D
- Desk Storage Unit: 30"H x 17W x 24 1⁄2 D; Grommet allows students to lock desk storage
- Dresser: 2'6" H x 2'6" W x 2' D
- Bed: 80" L x 36" W (XL Length Twin)
- Window: 45" inches wide. Height depends on floor.
About our namesakes
Both 1982 SMU graduates, Bill and Liz Armstrong received their bachelor’s degrees in geology. During their time as students, they lived on campus and participated actively in SMU-in-Taos programs and Greek life—Liz as a Pi Beta Phi and Bill as a Phi Gamma Delta. Though they met in Geology 101, it was their participation in Fort Burgwin’s geology field camp that brought them together as a couple. Their interest in geology and exploration continued past their time at SMU and led to successful careers in the oil and gas industry and numerous entrepreneurial endeavors.
Building facts
| Community abbreviations | ARM |
| Building capacity | 246 |
| Year built | 2014 |
| Residential area | Southeast |
| Physical address | 5809 Bush Ave. |
| Room types | Singles and doubles |
| Gender | Co-ed by gender by room |
Live, learn, achieve—together
Get to know the faculty, staff, and student leaders of Armstrong Commons.
Willie Baronet (He/him/his)
Faculty-in-Residence
Baronet is a 1982 graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). In May 2011 Baronet graduated from University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) with an M.F.A. in Arts & Technology. Baronet has been buying and collecting homeless signs since 1993 as part of a long-term art project titled "WE ARE ALL HOMELESS." The project has been featured in dozens of international and local media. Learn more about Professor Baronet and his family.
Molly Brooks (She/her/hers)
Residential Community Director
Molly is from Montana and earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Child Learning & Development from the University of Texas at Dallas before attending Kent State University to earn a Master's in Higher Education Administration and Student Personnel. She is passionate about making college an accessible experience for all and helping students to succeed in their chosen areas. Molly enjoys reading, theater, cooking, crafting, and traveling.