Guide To Stony Brook Housing

It feels as though it was just yesterday when I first arrived at Stony Brook as a freshman. I had visited campus once before, but still had no clear understanding of what housing was like apart from a few vague verbal descriptions. After living on campus for two semesters, I've learned a lot about the housing options available. In this article, I plan to give insight into the different living communities and ideal housing.

Wagner Hall, Roosevelt Community

For my freshmen year, I lived in Wagner Hall 221-1. All incoming freshmen have to choose between one of three first-year living communities: Eleanor Roosevelt, Mendleson, and H community. Wagner is a part of the Roosevelt community, which also happens to be the only first-year community on the west side of campus.

Despite its old interior and exterior, I found living in Wagner to be pretty convenient. It's especially ideal for an engineering student like myself since all the engineering buildings are about a 7 minute walk. The West Side Dining hall is also situated right across the street, which is great when you need to grab a quick meal either while going to class or coming back.

I recommend Wagner to any incoming freshmen living in the Roosevelt Community. There is a mix between single and double rooms with around three communal bathrooms per floor. Occasional organized social events hosted by the hall council will also allow you to meet and make new friends. Keep in mind that most of the halls in the community are the same and are in older condition than those in the other two first-year communities.

Lauterbur Hall, Second Year Learning Community (2YLC)

For my second year, I'll be living in Lauterbur Hall, right next door to Wagner and Roosevelt Community. From the outside and in, the building is visibly newer than most on campus. The living spaces are organized into suites containing 3 double rooms allowing for 6 people per suite. There's two sinks, one shower, and a toilet per suite.

As part of the Second Year Learning Community, you'll find yourself having to attend hall meetings centered around personal growth and also having to write short essays reflecting upon your development. This'll feel annoying at times, but you'll get used to it.

Since the hall is right next to Wagner, it shares all the same locational advantages. The bus stops right in front of the building. If you don't feel like taking the bus or walking, a bike share station is available for all undergraduates to use. The building is also connected to the Alan S. deVries Center, which is a great place to get coffee, print papers, and space to study.

Chávez & Tubman Hall

Situated on the East Side of campus are Chávez and Tubman Hall. They're both widely considered to be the best housing options on campus for juniors and seniors. The building itself is really nice and has a green roof connecting both halls. The rooms are suite style with four single rooms, a common area, two sinks, one shower, and a toilet.

The halls have multiple study lounges, which is ideal for prepping as a group especially when the library and other study spaces on campus are packed. There's also a fitness center which is good for a light workout when you don't feel like walking all the way to the campus recreation center. East Side Dining is also right next to the building adding another level of convenience to the experience.

West Apartments

On the far west side of campus are the west apartment halls. The buildings are alphabetized and labeled A through K. Buildings A to D are suite style with two singles , two doubles, and two full bathrooms. Buildings E to K are also suite style with six singles and two full bathrooms. A lot of parking spaces are available in the surrounding area. A basketball court and bike sharing station are also within a two minute distance from any given hall.

These apartments are quite spacious with noticeable taller ceilings than most living spaces. The suites all have a common area with a table and a kitchen. The apartments are fairly far from central campus which means you'll have to walk for an extra few minutes to get to class, if you're not taking the bus. Overall, the spaces allow for pretty comfortable living but do come at a higher cost compared to other housing options available for seniors.

Conclusion

I'm really excited to see what the next three years will look like. Where I live will for sure influence my experience one way or another, and I think for most people that will also hold true. I hope you found this information to be insightful!