So great that you won’t want to leave!

Location: On Claremont Avenue, behind Barnard Hall and Hewitt, on the Riverside side.

• Nearby Dorms: Elliot is right next door, 600s are down the street, and Woodbridge and Schapiro are within a five-minute walk.
• Stores and Restaurants: The street itself is isolated from the busy Broadway area, so many places are a bit of an uphill walk away, which adds to the peaceful vibe. On Broadway, you’ll find Shake Shack, Pret, and Morton Williams as the closest options. 

Note: Columbia Housing indicates that construction on a nearby Barnard property will continue through the 2025-2026 academic year. Work will occur between 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Cost: 2025-2026 year rates: $12,222/year.

Amenities:

• Bathrooms: Each suite comes with one private bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower) with plenty of cabinet space. In larger suites, you may experience a 7:1 ratio. The bathroom is cleaned weekly by facilities, and the shower, sink, and toilet are all quite decent in size.
• AC/Heating: Unfortunately, there is no AC. This can be a bit uncomfortable during the first weeks when summer heat lingers. The rooms are heated with radiators in larger rooms and heating pipes in the smaller ones, but you have no control over the temperature, and the heating system has been known to be inconsistent.
• Kitchen: Each suite has a private kitchen, which is surprisingly decent for college housing. While it’s not massive, there’s a full-sized stove/oven, microwave, and fridge, as well as enough cabinet and counter space. The kitchen is centrally located, making it a perfect place to socialize with your suitemates.
• Lounge: The basement has a cozy TV lounge with a big screen, perfect for movie nights. Nearby, there’s a computer lab and a conference room, which also double as study spots.
• Laundry: The building offers four washers and four dryers in the basement, which is on the smaller side, but it usually works out given the building’s relatively low number of residents. The laundry room is surprisingly clean and pleasant.
• Fire Escapes: There are two fire escapes—one on the street and another in the shaft. Although they’re technically not meant for use, some residents still find their way there (despite the cameras).
• Computers/Printing: There’s a small computer lab in the basement, but there’s no print station available.
• Gym: A small gym is located in the basement, with some treadmills and other basic equipment, though it’s not particularly extensive.
• Intra-Transportation: There’s one slow elevator, but considering the size of the building, it’s not too much of an issue. The elevator doors have a porthole design, giving it a unique, submarine-like vibe. To get to the basement, you’ll either take the elevator or use a set of outdoor stairs, which can be cold in winter.
• Bike Storage: None.
• Flooring: Hardwood floors in the bedrooms and hallways, fake wood in the kitchens, and tile in the bathrooms.

Room Variety: 

• It is apartment-style housing with a mix of 3-7-person apartments.
• 10 Seven-Person Suites: These are made up of one extremely small single, one medium single, one large single, and two medium to large doubles.
• Six Three-Person Suites: All singles, with one significantly smaller than the rest. Three suites are designated for the RA and two additional individuals. The remaining three suites are available for selection.
• Six Four-Person Suites: All singles, with one notably smaller than the others.
• One Six-Person Suite: Includes one double and four singles, located on the first floor.
• One Five-Person Suite: Comprised of one double and three singles, also on the first floor.

Stats:

From Columbia Housing: Room Selection 2024 data shows that the students who selected into this building were 46% rising sophomores, 24% rising juniors, and 30% rising seniors.

• 100% of students who selected into this building participated as part of a group:
  • 32% were in mixed point groups with an average point value of 22
  • 30% were in rising seniors groups
  • 19% were in rising juniors groups
  • 19% were in rising sophomore groups
• 3 and 4 person suites were chosen by rising seniors, and 5-6 person suites were chosen by rising juniors, leaving 7 person suites for any remaining groups.

Bwog recommendation:

• As a mere visitor, the instant “homey” vibe I felt upon entering was enough to make me wish I lived there. Claremont offers an exceptional suite-style living experience that feels more like an apartment than a dorm. If you get along well with your suitemates and play your cards right, it will truly feel like you’re sharing an apartment without the constant worry of dividing cleaning responsibilities. The most tempting part is how easy it is to get comfortable and forget you’re at Columbia, as campus can seem like a completely different world. But as a living space, Claremont has a way of making you feel like you have your life together.
• The charm of Claremont lies in the details: blue walls, crown molding, and fire escapes, all of which add a sense of personality and remove you from the typical dorm corridor feel. In the seven-person suites, there’s ample space to host gatherings, just open up the doubles and use the kitchen as a communal hangout area.
• There are some drawbacks, particularly for rising sophomores who are likely to end up in suites with a higher suitemate-to-bathroom ratio. Be prepared to have open conversations with your suitemates and adjust your schedule to ensure bathroom availability. And when it comes to the singles, their size can vary widely, some are pretty spacious, while others might make you feel… a little more cramped.

Resident Opinions:

• “Great amount of closet space! A lot of closets even in the smaller rooms and they’re pretty good.”
• “It’s a quiet place for sure. And there’s not a lot of activity in the lounge. But it’s a nice place to study… then you don’t want to leave!”
• “It’s clean. Pretty nice and chill.”
• “A perfect place if you want to get away from the busy life of campus.” 
• “Perfect if you have classes in Barnard too. It’s like a cheat code.”
• “We have only one water fountain [on] the first floor though. ” 

Images via Bwog Staff and Bwarchives