Wright State celebrates revitalized campus gathering space: the Moat at Wright Plaza

Wright State University’s celebration of a revitalized outdoor gathering space at the heart of campus came with a familiar twist: the name students and alumni know and love is here to stay, now as the Moat at Wright Plaza.

President Sue Edwards made the announcement during April Craze, the annual end-of-semester celebration, drawing students, faculty and staff to experience the reimagined space outside Allyn Hall.

“We have stayed with the Moat, team,” Edwards told the gathered crowd.

The redesigned space ensures Wright Plaza will remain a focal point for campus life, Edwards said.

“The Quad has always been the heart of campus, and this project was really about bringing that energy back,” she said. “We wanted to create a space where students can gather, build community and take advantage of being outdoors — something that’s so important for both mental and physical well-being.”

While the redesigned area is now officially called Wright Plaza, a campus survey showed the community preferred to keep the long-standing nickname “the Moat” for the new water feature around Allyn Hall.

“We heard clearly from our students, faculty and staff that the ‘moat’ is part of Wright State’s identity,” Edwards said. “This name honors that history while also recognizing the new life and purpose of this space.”

The Moat has been a central gathering place for students since Wright State’s founding in 1967. Located among Allyn Hall, Millett Hall, Oelman Hall and Fawcett Hall — the university’s first four campus buildings — it has served as a backdrop for the first commencement ceremony, rallies and festivals and as a beloved hangout spot for students between classes.

The redesigned Wright Plaza preserves that legacy while adding new features:

• Two updated water features
• Expanded seating areas, including a redesigned terrace around the Hangar in Allyn Hall
• Improved walkways
• New lighting
• A performance stage for outdoor programming

The redesign also includes several ramps providing wheelchair access to the Hangar and the Quad.

During April Craze, Wright State celebrated the Moat at Wright Plaza, a revitalized outdoor gathering space featuring new water features, seating, lighting, improved accessibility and a performance stage at the heart of campus.

The project, part of ongoing efforts to enhance campus facilities and the student experience, was funded by $2.5 million in State of Ohio capital funding awarded to Wright State.

Coleman Fox, a sophomore studying human resources management and management information systems, welcomed the reopened space.

“It’s one of the prettiest outdoor spaces we have. It’s right next to the quad with all the trees,” Fox said. “It looks like the university is really trying to improve campus life, and I’m excited to see what they have coming next.”