Ruggles Hall

Ruggles is a residence hall that mostly houses juniors and seniors in suites. It is named for influential 19th century Columbia trustee Samuel Ruggles.

Ruggles suites 708-714 and 808-814 were renovated during the summer of 2006. All suites on the northern half of the building were renovated in Summer 2007, with the remaining southern suites being renovated in Summer 2008. As of Fall 2008, every suite had been completely renovated, including new furniture, new hardwood floors, and increased lounge space.

Most 4-person suites go to seniors. In the past, most 8-person suites had gone to sophomores and mixed-class groups, but a recent upswing in popularity following its 2006 renovations has resulted in the majority of the 8-person suites being snatched up by all-junior or junior and senior suites. A group point value of over twenty is needed to have a good shot at an 8-person suite.

History

Built in 1908 to a design by Neville and Bagge, Ruggles was originally the Arizona Hotel. In 1964, the university purchased it and converted it into a graduate residence. It was later made into undergraduate housing.

Bad stuff that's happened here:

• Ruggles murder-suicide of 2000 in room 509
• Ruggles vandalization incident of 2006

Suites

• 8 4-person suites
• 8 5-person suites (previously 4-person suites)
• 1 1st floor 6-person suites
• 12 8-person suites with 2 singles and 3 doubles
• 2 8-person suites with 4 singles and 2 doubles

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• A short walk to JJ's Place, the John Jay Dining Hall, Butler Library, and Hamilton Hall. Strokos is practically next door
• Parties more feasible than you'd think
• Weekly cleaning of common areas
• High floors have access to the roof. Actually going up there is prohibited, but rarely enforced unless a lot of people are there
• Decent soundproofing between rooms

Disadvantages

• Exposed pipes
• Poor temperature regulation
• Insufficient laundry equipment (4 washers and 4 dryers when all are operational)
• Slow single elevator that sometimes gets stuck between floors
• You have to take your garbage to the basement yourself
• No stair access to basement
• Many rooms exposed to nighttime noise on Frat Row which is really noisy in the mornings due to delivery trucks and parking garage.
• You have to swipe open the entrance door only to be swiped again by a guard
• Roof door alarm rings incessantly because Public Safety never comes to turn it off. Especially a problem during storms, when the door is blown open constantly. Currently (September 2009), the door hinge is broken, and hence is not closeable, meaning residents of the 7th and 8th floors are subjected to incessant and wall-penetrating alarm bells. When the door will be fixed is unknown.

Photos

Note: These images are from renovated suites only.

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  Single, view 1

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  Single, view 2

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  Double, view 1

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  Double, view 2

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  Double, view 3

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  Suite kitchen, view 1

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  Suite kitchen, view 2

Floor plans

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  Floor 1

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  Floor 2

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  Floor 3

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  Floor 4

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  Floor 5

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  Floor 6

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  Floor 7

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  Floor 8

Building address

508 W. 114th St.
New York, NY 10025

Map

Map

<googlemap lat="40.805687" lon="-73.962678" type="map" zoom="16" width="500" height="300" controls="small"> 40.805687, -73.962678, Ruggles residence hall </googlemap>

External Links

Columbia Housing - Ruggles