Probably the best Ruggles has ever looked.

Housing has taught us we’ll never win the lottery, but maybe you’re not such a glum chum. Make the best of a bad situation by reading through our pertinent, updated housing reviews—and maybe you won’t have to stoop to doing unspeakable things. Today, we bring you Ruggles, aka a building that should be a children’s TV show. 

Location: 508 W. 114th Street

Nearby Dorms: Carman, John Jay, Brownstones, Hogan/Broadway, Wallach/Hartley

Stores and Restaurants: HamDel (!), Strokos, Artopolis, Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor, John Jay, JJ’s, literally anything on Amsterdam. Ruggles is only around the corner and down the street from Broadway, too.

Cost: $10,120/year (same as 47 Claremont, EC, Hogan, SIC, Woodbridge, Watt, and Brownstones. The price has gone up since last year.)

Amenities: 

Bathrooms: In the 6 and 8 person suites there are two full baths. There’s one full bath in the 4 person suites.

AC/Heating: Unfortunately no AC. Heating can’t be controlled, though it only becomes a problem in late Fall and early Spring.

Kitchen/Lounge: There’s a full-size refrigerator in as good a kitchen as you’ll find in a Columbia suite (minus, perhaps, EC). Oven, stove, microwave, etc. are included. Residents fuse kitchen/lounge space for more comfortable living.

Laundry: There are 5 washers and 5 dryers in the basement, which you have to use the elevator to get to. Unless you make a habit of doing laundry during non-peak hours, you might have to fight for a spot.

Computers/Printers: PawPrint station set up in lobby.

Gym: Small gym in the basement with 4 machines.

Intra-transportation: Nice—but narrow—staircase next to the security desk, and a single, relatively okay elevator.

Wi-Fi: Yes

Hardwood/Carpet: Hardwood.

Extra: There is bike storage in the exterior of the basement.

Room Variety: 

Singles: There are 82 singles, ranging from very small 85 sq. ft. in the 8 person suites to 175 sq. ft. in the much desired 4 person suites.

Doubles: There are 59 doubles, from 170 sq. ft. (Furnald double size) to 200 sq. ft. (average McBain double size).

Numbers:

Ruggles 4 Person Suites: Usually consistent with all seniors. 2015 cut off was 30/2743 while 2014 cutoff was 30/2877.

Ruggles 6 Person Suites: Varies heavily—last year’s cutoff was 20/1166, while 2014’s was 20/497. Mixture of seniors and juniors with good lottery numbers, though it really depends on who is looking for/hoping to get the 6 person suites.

Ruggles 8 Person Suites: Again, will vary. Last year’s cutoff was 20/2279 whereas the year before was 20/1414. As Columbia shunts fun away from campus, expect the large 8 person suites to grow in desirability.

Bwog Recommendations:

The floor plans are seriously wonky. They sometimes are consistent with floors above/below, and sometimes are completely different. Make sure you look before you leap into Ruggles.

Ruggles is a great suite for juniors: close to campus, great social potential, fantastic communal space, a nice kitchen for when you drop your meal plan, and it’s relatively easy to get around. Probably the best dorm a sophomore could get outside of Watt.

Resident Opinions:

“The size of the doubles and the size of the living room makes up for everything.”

“One time people came in through the fire escape and pooped on our floor, that was cool.”

“RA’s don’t care what you do as long as it’s not bugging others.”

“Honestly the most fun living environment I’ve ever had, I got to see my friends all the time and it was honestly a two semester long chill sesh. Plus the kitchen is great for developing some cookin’ skills.”

“It gets really hot in the rooms whether it’s fall, winter, or spring.”

“Some of the space in the living room and bedrooms is designed inefficiently with weird corners and such.”

“In general if you’re living with people you like and enjoy hanging out with, Ruggles is the move.”

Ruggles via Columbia Housing page