It’s a mixed bag, but it might be the best one you’ve got.

Location: 620 W. 116th St., between Broadway and Riverside Drive.

• Nearby dorms: Barnard dorms 616 and 600 are on the same block. Elliot and 47 Claremont are just up the street, and the Quad is right around the corner.
• Stores and restaurants: With Broadway less than a block away, 620 has easy access to Shake Shack, Pret A Manger, Ivy League Stationers, Morton Williams, and UPS. Sweetgreen, Book Culture, Hex & Co., University Hardware, Junzi, and Wu & Nussbaum are all within three blocks.  
• Cost: $5,869 per semester.

Amenities: 

• Furniture: Every resident has an XL twin bed, desk, desk chair, and dresser. Some rooms have built-in closets while others have wardrobes.
• Common Areas: 620 does not have a common room, but does have access to the common room next door in 616. Some suites have common rooms/dining rooms in addition to the kitchen.
• Security: 24-hour attendant at the front desk.
• Internet: Reliable internet access (both Barnard Secure and Barnard Guest) with routers in most rooms.
• Bathrooms: Every suite has a private bathroom.
• Kitchens: Every suite has its own kitchen with a gas stove, oven, sink, and refrigerator. Some suites (though it is not advertised which ones) have dishwashers. Microwaves are not provided but are permitted.
• Flooring: Flooring is either black linoleum or hardwood depending on the unit.
• Laundry: Laundry machines are located in the basement. There are four washers and four dryers. Laundry is free for residents.
• Mail/Packages: All mail must be delivered to the student mailroom in the basement of Altschul.
• Accessibility: The front door to 620 is wheelchair accessible. All suites except for those on the first floor are wheelchair accessible.
• Intra-transportation: 620 has 10 floors made accessible by two elevators and one staircase.
• Air Conditioning/Heating: 620 does not have air conditioning but box fans were provided at the beginning of the school year. There are multiple radiators in each suite, with at least one in every room.
• Printers: 620 does not have printers but residents can access printers next door in 616 at any hour.

Room Variety: 

• Four to seven-person suites. Rooms are a mix of singles and doubles.
• Rooms 3 – 5 in A suites and rooms 1 – 3 in B suites (e.g. “Room 4A3” or “Room 4B2”) have views of 116th street. South-facing rooms on the higher floors of D and C units have views of downtown and Riverside Park.
• Shafted rooms on higher floors (e.g. “Room 7D4” or “Room 8B5”) will still get a reliable amount of light.

Bwog Recommendation: 

620 is a great option if you are looking to stay closer to campus but still live in apartment-style housing. Although the building has experienced a slew of infrastructure problems within the last year, the day-to-day experience of 620 is quite pleasant. Easy access to Riverside Park and the Claremont entrances to Barnard make getting around easy. With a solid mix of doubles and singles, you have a decent chance of getting a single as a sophomore or junior. The all-single suites tend to be selected by seniors early on in the housing selection process. For those participating in the 123 lottery looking to join a larger suite, you also have a shot at getting a single.

Resident Opinions:

• “Aside from the fact that everything is old and broken it’s pretty average for Barnard dorms.”
• “All of the suites are different, so you don’t really know what you’re getting.”
• “Washer and dryer machines leave something to be desired.”
• “At least we don’t have rats.”
• “If you have a room with a street view there is really good natural lighting, and depending on what floor you are on, back suites have a nice view of Riverside.”
• “It feels like an actual apartment, not a dorm. It’s an old building so it had problems but it’s much homier than Plimpton.”

620 Suite Pictures via Bwog Staff and 620 Residents