{"id":165307,"date":"2026-04-27T10:22:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/?p=165307"},"modified":"2026-04-27T10:22:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-27T14:22:50","slug":"wright-state-celebrates-revitalized-campus-gathering-space-the-moat-at-wright-plaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webapp2.wright.edu\/web1\/newsroom\/2026\/04\/27\/wright-state-celebrates-revitalized-campus-gathering-space-the-moat-at-wright-plaza\/","title":{"rendered":"Wright State celebrates revitalized campus gathering space: the Moat at Wright Plaza"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wright State University\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have stayed with the Moat, team,\u201d Edwards told the gathered crowd.<\/p>\n

The redesigned space ensures Wright Plaza will remain a focal point for campus life, Edwards said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Quad has always been the heart of campus, and this project was really about bringing that energy back,\u201d she said. \u201cWe wanted to create a space where students can gather, build community and take advantage of being outdoors \u2014 something that\u2019s so important for both mental and physical well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the redesigned area is now officially called Wright Plaza, a campus survey showed the community preferred to keep the long-standing nickname \u201cthe Moat\u201d for the new water feature around Allyn Hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe heard clearly from our students, faculty and staff that the \u2018moat\u2019 is part of Wright State\u2019s identity,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cThis name honors that history while also recognizing the new life and purpose of this space.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Moat has been a central gathering place for students since Wright State\u2019s founding in 1967. Located among Allyn Hall, Millett Hall, Oelman Hall and Fawcett Hall \u2014 the university\u2019s first four campus buildings \u2014 it has served as a backdrop for the first commencement ceremony, rallies and festivals and as a beloved hangout spot for students between classes.<\/p>\n

The redesigned Wright Plaza preserves that legacy while adding new features:<\/p>\n