Over the years, I’ve had a not-so-secret remedy to come down from a day that rattled my nerves. Thanks to decades in syndication, I tuned into classic episodes of A Different World and was whisked into Hillman College’s halls, dorm rooms and common spaces, where love and laughs washed over me and calmed my soul. As someone who didn’t attend an HBCU, I often imagined what it would be like to walk through those hallowed halls or eat at its cherished The Pit.
So imagine how quickly I jumped when invited to visit the set of A Different World during its production window this past spring, where I finally got a chance to experience life at the fictitious HBCU. Shot in Atlanta, the sequel series brings us back to some of the most iconic spots from its original iterations — with a 2026 twist, served up by showrunner Felicia Pride’s vision and executed to perfection by series production designer Bruton Jones.
Here are three spaces that made my visit beyond memorable.
The Meeting Space
Vernon Gaines, affectionately known as Mr. Gaines, owned and managed The Pit in the series’ original run. Played by the late Lou Myers, he was gruff and opinionated but also served as a fatherly source of wisdom for generations of Hillman students. The Pit remains a campus fixture, officially passed down to Mr. Gaines’ granddaughter, Nellie Gaines, played by actress Famecia Ward. Once a casual joint known for its burgers, it’s been reimagined and refitted for Ge Next.
“This is the modern interpretation from the original series,” Bruton shared via a Netflix mini-doc. More than just a dining hall, it’s become a community hall—an artsy salon-meets-book-nook—with floor-to-ceiling shelves stocked with Black literature, including titles banned in other educational institutions, colorful Black art and lounge-style seating designed to encourage discussion, debate and community.
The establishment includes many references to the HBCU students and leaders from Hillman’s past. “A lot of these [HBCU] colleges, they reinforce all the professors, teachers and people that have gone through before,” which is done through layered artwork from former students, photographs of leaders like Barack and Michelle Obama and, of course, an homage to Mr. Gaines himself. “You’re not just on a campus, but on a Black campus,” Bruton continued. Pride also made sure that The Pit delivered HBCU authenticity in every corner.
The Dorms
I was also invited into the dorm rooms of Hillman’s newest class, starting with the updated Whitley Gilbert Hall. It still has Gilbert Hall, where Whitley, Freddie, Kimberly and countless other female students lived on campus, but it definitely has Whitley’s soft, chic touch. “Whitley left and went to Japan, so we wanted it to have that boutique hotel look to it,” Bruton shared, mixed with her Southern Belle charm. Her daughter Deborah’s bedroom definitely gives Whitley’s soft-life influence, with mauve walls and furnishings, but also has a touch of rebel gal thrown in.
Filled with photos, trophies and tokens of Garvey Hall residents from decades past, Garvey Hall dormitory, where Kojo and Shaquille share a room (and Amir takes refuge on a couch), is more than just its wooden paneling and concrete bedroom walls. It represents the brotherhood of the men who have resided there. There is a “humble historic feel” in this space, according to Pride. For this upcycling aficionado, my favorite part was seeing aspiring fashion designer Kojo’s colorful sewing space.
On Campus
Maybe my most exciting moment was visiting Hillman’s exteriors. While the original series was shot mainly on a soundstage in Los Angeles, the sequel’s exteriors were filmed at the three real-life HBCUs that comprise the Atlanta University Center: Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College and Morehouse College. “To use the students here, and they are part of our ensemble extras, everybody has been so wonderful,” exclaimed Debbie Allen, who has returned to the series as executive producer and director.
Seeing the new cast and legacy cast members strolling along those pathways was how I felt truly transported to A Different World.