The residence halls are named in honor of four individuals who are symbols of diversity and progress, including Hiram Whittle, the first African American male to be admitted to the university in 1951; Elaine Johnson Coates, the first African American female to graduate with a degree in education in 1959; Pyon Su, the first Korean student to receive a degree from an American college or university; and Chunjen Constant Chen, the first Chinese student to enroll at the Maryland Agricultural College, which was the previous name of the university.

Designed with energy efficiency in mind, the halls have floor-to-ceiling windows at every corner to maximize natural light and student comfort. Amenities include seminar rooms for university honors students, building kitchens, quiet study rooms, multipurpose spaces, and bike storage areas.

The halls are surrounded by a spacious outdoor plaza that combines hardscape and natural landscaping while addressing local stormwater management requirements. The courtyard is accessible from many directions, with centralized building entrances located at the same elevation on the plaza level. An elevator within the dining hall connects the plaza level to the street level at Stadium Drive.