Residential Life and Housing

The mission of Residential Life and Housing is to efficiently and effectively administer a housing program in a learning-centered environment that supports students while challenging them to:

enhance self-understanding;
value community responsibility; and
learn from their experiences.

Residential Life and Housing holds the belief that student development and learning goes on outside the classroom, as well as inside the classroom. The policies, procedures, and programs that are established and encouraged by Residential Life and Housing are those that enhance student learning and involvement outside the classroom.

The office takes very seriously its role as guarantor of a residence-hall atmosphere conducive to work and study. We also strive to provide an atmosphere in which students are encouraged to make informed decisions on their own, take responsibility for their actions, and learn from their experiences.

Leadership development opportunities are offered to students in the residence halls through participation in Residence Hall Councils, the Residence Hall Advisory Committee (a student advisory committee to Residential Life and Housing), Sustainability Reps, Dining Services Reps, and the Connections Leadership class.

The Residential Life staff wants to provide a memorable, enjoyable, and successful academic year but reminds students that we are jointly responsible for the success of this experience. Through participation, cooperation, understanding, and communication, all can enjoy the time spent in the residence halls at Pratt Institute.

Residential Life and Housing at Pratt Institute is based on a specific set of values. These values guide the expectations the office has for itself and for the students who reside on campus and extend to the residence halls in many direct ways. They are:

Personal rights and responsibilities
Integrity
Respect
Fairness and justice
Open communication
Involvement

The educational mission of Pratt Institute is actively pursued in the residence halls. An expected outcome of the on-campus experience is to have students learn to cope and deal with problems that arise. Though this is not always an easy task, if a student is able to learn from an adverse situation, the goal has been achieved. Along with this is the ability for students to take responsibility for their choices and behaviors. If students make an inappropriate choice, they should expect to be held accountable. The hope is that a different choice will be made the next time, more in keeping with the community expectations set forth.

THE RESIDENCE HALLS

Pratt Institute maintains seven undergraduate residence halls that accommodate approximately 1,900 students. The focus of our residential life program is on providing a comfortable yet challenging environment in which students will become integral members of the campus community. This is fostered by educational approaches and programming.

Pratt residence halls offer a variety of housing options, including rooms with and without kitchens, doubles, and singles. All rooms on campus have internet access. All residence halls have laundry facilities, with the cost of laundry included in the room fee. Pratt also offers campus meal plans for students who like the convenience of eating on campus. Those students who live on campus in rooms without kitchens are automatically enrolled in a mandatory meal plan.

Emerson Place Residence

Emerson Place is a 10-story community for first-year students and is the newest residence option on campus. Each floor offers students double room accommodation and 10+ single-use bathroom facilities arranged around a large central floor lounge with kitchenettes with dramatic views of the campus and lower Manhattan. Rooms are single-sex, but floors are coed. The building is air-conditioned and has a large main lounge, student maker space, and meeting space on the first floor with laundry and bike storage in the basement. Conveniently located adjacent to the Film and Video building, Emerson expands the Pratt campus east. Emerson is home to conference housing in the summer months.

Esther Lloyd-Jones Hall

Esther Lloyd-Jones Hall (ELJ) is named for a trendsetter in modern American higher education. ELJ accommodates a total of 80 upperclass students in suite-style accommodations of single- and double- occupancy rooms. Suites are single-sex, but floors are coed. Rooms vary in size from 11 x 16 feet to 12 x 18 feet. Students are responsible for the healthy upkeep of their rooms, including shared suite bathrooms. The building has a TV lounge, kitchenette and workroom on the first floor.

Grand Avenue Residence

Grand Avenue Residence can accommodate 50+ students, graduates and undergraduates, in a variety of apartment layouts.

A “double efficiency” apartment is two students sharing a one-room apartment (with kitchen and bath).

A “shared single” for undergraduates is two or more students in their own private bedroom spaces, sharing kitchen and bath with an “economy single,” a cost-effective means of single occupancy space in the former living room of the apartment...less privacy, more space.

There are also a number of “triple rooms” available, large efficiency apartments for three students to share the living space, kitchen, and bathroom.

The building is located one block from campus at 100 Grand Avenue.

Leo J. Pantas Hall

Leo J. Pantas Hall is a suite-style undergraduate hall that accommodates 212 first-year residents. Students live in four–person suites, which consist of two double rooms (two people in each double room). Each 10 x 16-foot bedroom has a separate 8 x 9-foot entry from the hallway. All rooms are air conditioned. Each suite has its own bathroom. Each suite is responsible for the healthy upkeep of the common bathroom area. Suites are single-sex, but floors are coed. The building boasts a large work area in addition to a dramatic main lounge area with large-screen TV, foosball table, and kitchenette. Its central location on campus makes it desirable to students. Its clock tower serves as a campus landmark. Pantas Hall is not open during the summer months except to house special conference groups.

The Townhouses

The Townhouses are remodeled historic row houses located near the center of campus. Six students reside in each house in single rooms on three floors. Each house is coed (men and women share a house) and offers a full kitchen, living room, parlor, backyard area, and basement. Each room is provided with the standard campus furniture (bed, armoire, dressers, desk, chair, and bookshelf). Preference for this housing option, which accommodates 120 upperclass and graduate students, is given to junior- level students and above.

Vincent A. Stabile Hall

Vincent A. Stabile Hall opened in fall 1999. Named for the donor, a graduate of the former Engineering School, Stabile Hall was designed for new students. It houses 225 first-year students in four-person suites. Each suite consists of two double rooms and its own bath. Suites are single-sex, but floors are coed. With few exceptions, the room dimensions, not including the small entry foyer, are 12 x 12 feet. Students are responsible for the healthy upkeep of the common bathroom area. There are kitchenettes located on each floor. The award-winning design of the building boasts a large common lounge. Smaller work and lounge spaces on each floor contribute to a vital living and working environment. All rooms are air conditioned. Stabile Hall is not open during the summer months except to house special conference groups.

Willoughby Residence Hall

Willoughby Residence Hall is a former 17-story apartment co-op and is the largest residence hall. It accommodates about 900 upperclass and graduate students. The building houses offices (Residential Life and Housing, and Health Services) as well as a student workroom, TV lounge, convenience store, laundry facilities, and other common student lounge areas. Suites are single-sex, but floors are coed. Rooms vary in size from 9 x 12 feet to 15 x 18 feet. In addition to the standard furniture, all suites have a kitchen table, stove, and refrigerator. Each resident is provided with a bookcase. All students assigned to double, triple, and single spaces will share kitchen and bathroom facilities with other residents of the suite. The converted apartments consist of at least one double or triple that occupies the former living room space of the apartment and at least one private single room that occupies the former bedroom space of the apartment. The number of students residing in a given suite usually ranges from three to six students (depending upon the size of the converted apartment—one-bedroom, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom). Willoughby Residence Hall remains open all year. However, residents on certain floors might have to relocate to different floors during the summer months for the purpose of maintenance and upkeep.

SPECIAL HOUSING OPTIONS

In addition to the traditional housing choices offered, several special housing options are provided for undergraduate students. Students indicate their preference for these options during the online housing preference process.

Quiet Floors

Quiet Floors are an option in Willoughby Hall. Though all residence hall floors have quiet hours (10 PM–9 AM weekdays and 11 PM–9 AM weekends), some students desire a more controlled environment. Students who choose to live on a Quiet Floor are provided a living and working environment where noise levels are kept to a minimum 24 hours a day. Noise levels include sound inside student apartments, in the hallway, and among apartment mates. Students residing on the Quiet Floors will serve as self-regulatory agents. As is the case with the courtesy-hours policy on non-quiet floors, it is expected that all students on the Quiet Floors will abide by requests of fellow students to lower noise levels.

Gender-Inclusive Community

Gender-inclusive housing is an option for first-year, upper-class, and transfer students. This option provides an alternative for students who may identify as transgender, are more comfortable living with another sex or gender, do not wish to prescribe to gender classifications, or are allies of LGBTQIA students and would like to live in this community. Outside of gender inclusive housing, students are assigned rooms and suites by their legal gender marker.

Healthy Choices Floors

Healthy Choices Floors provide an environment conducive to living and study while promoting healthy life choices. The floors are substance-free. This means there is no smoking; consumption, serving, or possession of alcohol is not permitted regardless of age; and, as in all residence halls, illegal drugs are prohibited. The guidelines for the Healthy Choices Floors indicate that, while on the floor, residents will be substance-free. However, it is expected that respect be shown to those who choose to lead a substance-free lifestyle on and off the floor. Therefore, residents must acknowledge that choices they make off campus have an effect on the floor community and make these choices with respect for others on the floor.

All residents are responsible for participating as positive members of the community. For example, this may take the form of participating in or planning programs that center on making healthy life choices. Floor activities will be planned based on the concept of making healthy lifestyle choices and providing alternative social activities. Healthy Choices Floors are offered in both first-year and upperclass halls.

Global Learning Community

Global Learning Community is a living environment that promotes cultural exchange among first-year resident students. The community, composed of both international and domestic students, is a diverse group willing to learn from others and share their experiences. Programs focus on social interactions promoting cultural exchange, exploring diverse resources in the city, and connecting culture to the students’ work. Students in the community agree to be active participants through attending programs and getting to know others. Students are also encouraged to plan events and programs. A central goal of this housing option is to enhance understanding of the global community and various cultures and nations. Residents have a unique experience that pairs their first year Humanities class with the special-interest housing theme. The Humanities class incorporates global issues and receives special funding to attend a course-related performance off campus and other exceptional activities. Learning communities allow students to interact more with their faculty and make it easier to seek out study partners, ask homework questions, and share insights and information with classmates who are also neighbors.

Community Service Floor

The Community Service Floor is an option for first-year students. The floor provides an opportunity for students to work to improve their communities and learn from their service. The floor is a great place for like-minded individuals to meet and interact. The community’s mission is to explore service initiatives that improve the quality of life for others around them. Previous projects include art murals, park beautification, animal shelter work, card making, and food and clothing drives. Residents of the floor determine service projects and topics of interest. On the Community Service Floor, residents have a unique experience that pairs their first year Humanities class with the special-interest housing theme. The Humanities class incorporates social justice issues and receives special funding to attend a course-related performance off campus and other exceptional activities. Learning communities allow students to interact more with their faculty and make it easier to seek out study partners, ask homework questions, and share insights and information with classmates who are also neighbors.

Art History Learning Communities

Art History Learning Communities are available in all first-year halls. Students from one residence hall make up an entire Themes in Art and Culture section (required of all School of Art and School of Design students). The learning community emphasizes engagement and discussion and receives special funding to attend a course-related performance or tour. Learning communities allow students to interact more with their Art History faculty and make it easier to seek out study partners, ask homework questions, and share insights and information with classmates who are also neighbors.

ROOM ASSIGNMENT

Upon acceptance to the Institute, students are sent an Accepted Student Guide, which includes a housing request and information describing each housing option. The process involves paying the deposit and completing the online housing application .

Students are assigned rooms in the order their applications are received. Space is limited, and students are advised to meet all deadlines. Assignment notifications are made in early July.

Students who have not applied by May 1 can anticipate being assigned only if and when space becomes available. All correspondence should be addressed to reslife@pratt.edu