View source for Carman Hall

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{{Infobox reshall
|Name=Carman
|Image=Carman.jpg
|Built=1959
|Renovated=1999-2001
|Population=587}}

'''Carman''' is a first-year residence hall. Approximately 40% of first years live in Carman.

== History ==

Columbia's priorities in the 50s and 60s did not include residence halls or an undergraduate student center, but the university chanced upon a fortunate (or fortuitous) coincidence. Mr and Mrs Willis Booth gave $4m in memory of their son Ferris Booth ([[Columbia College|CC]] '24) to construct a student center to replace the one on the 2nd floor of [[John Jay Hall|John Jay]]. At the same time, Columbia secured a $3m loan from the Federal Housing and Home Agency. Columbia wanted to combine the funds and build a single building. However, the FHHA loan forbade any link between the residence hall and the student center to prevent the emergence of a "country-club atmosphere". (The university continues to adhere to this condition, and did not create any link with the replacement of Ferris Booth Hall by [[Lerner Hall]].)

The residence hall and student center were designed by architect Harvey Clarkson of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon in 1959. Construction was completed in 1960. The residence hall was known as New Hall until it was named Carman Hall in 1965 after [[Harry Carman]]. It was the most recent addition to Columbia's undergraduate residence halls since [[John Jay Hall]] was completed in 1927. There is a rumor that Carman was built as a temporary structure until funds could be allocated to build a "John Jay II", but this rumor is false. A [[New York Times]] architectural review called it a "Victorian reformatory", noting its nondescript rows of doubles. For a long time afterwards, it was one of the least popular choices among students. Since then it was become perhaps the most popular first year residence hall.

== Facilities ==

=== Living arrangements ===
Each entryway leads into a mini suite with two doubles (A and B) and a shared bathroom. The size of each double varies between suites but the B double generally feels larger and allows for more furniture arrangements. The A doubles generally feel long and narrow, so the best arrangement is a bed and desk on each long wall. Every room has central air condition. Each bathroom has 2 sinks, a toilet, and a shower.

=== Floors ===
Every floor has a common area with a couple chairs and a cable television. Floors 2-5 are shorter floors, so their lounges are basically the open area near the elevators. Floors 6 and above have lounges at the west end of the floor with a window overlooking Broadway. Floors M, 2 and 3 are allocated to first year single-sex housing.

=== Basement ===
The laundry room has 14 washers and 14 dryers, but even this isn't enough at peak usage times. The basement has a lounge with chairs, tables, and a non-functional pool table. The basement also accommodates the building's only kitchen, which has a microwave, a questionable mini-fridge, and two oven ranges/stoves, as well as plentiful cabinet space.

== Advantages and disadvantages ==

=== Advantages ===
* Carman has a reputation as the "party" or "social" dorm, probably because of its group living quarters and its incredibly spacious corridors which make fantastic unorganized social spaces.
* [[Lerner Hall]] is next door.
* Several deans have offices on the 1st floor. They can help with advising, scheduling, and give counsel/advice.
* Private bathrooms, and only 4 people to each bathroom.
* Good soundproofing because the walls are made of concrete, not wallboard.
* Enormous closets.

== Photos ==

<gallery>
Image:CAdouble706Aview1.jpg|Double 706A, view 1
Image:CAdouble706Aview2.jpg|Double 706A, view 2
Image:CAdouble706Aview3.jpg|Double 706A, view 3
Image:CAdouble706Bview1.jpg|Double 706B, view 1
Image:CAdouble706Bview2.jpg|Double 706B, view 2
Image:CAdouble706Bwindow.jpg|Double 706B, view from window
Image:CAsuite706bath1.jpg|Suite 706 bathroom (shared by double 706A and double 706B)
Image:CAdouble711Aview1.jpg|Double 711A
Image:CAdoubleclosets.jpg|Closets
Image:CAfloorlounge1view1.jpg|Floor lounge, view 1
Image:CAfloorlounge1view2.jpg|Floor lounge, view 2
Image:CAfloorlounge1view3.jpg|Floor lounge, view 3
Image:CAelevator.jpg|Elevator
Image:CAlaundry.jpg|Laundry room
Image:CAbasement1.jpg|Basement lounge, view 1
Image:CAbasement2.jpg|Basement lounge, view 2
</gallery>

== Floor plans ==
<gallery>
Image:Carman1.gif|Floor 1
Image:Carman2.gif|Floor 2
Image:Carman3.gif|Floor 3
Image:Carman4.gif|Floor 4
Image:Carman5.gif|Floor 5
Image:Carman6.gif|Floor 6
Image:Carman7.gif|Floor 7
Image:Carman8.gif|Floor 8
Image:Carman9.gif|Floor 9
Image:Carman10.gif|Floor 10
Image:Carman11.gif|Floor 11
Image:Carman12.gif|Floor 12
Image:Carman13.gif|Floor 13
</gallery>

== Map ==
<googlemap lat="40.806472" lon="-73.963845" type="map" zoom="16" width="500" height="300" controls="small">
40.806472, -73.963845, Carman residence hall
</googlemap>

==Significant contributors==
* [[Tao Tan]]

[[Category:Residence halls]]