As a prospective student looking at Cornell's housing options, North Campus may seem intriguing due to its proximity to the Morrison and North Star dining halls and the Robert Purcell Community Center, a hub for students to hang out. However, an option that many students tend to overlook is the program houses on campus. Each of these living areas has a theme, such as environment and sustainability, which is the foundation of the Ecology House. Just off Triphammer Road, it is a reformed hotel that now houses 96 students living in doubles. Follow along with my experience living in the Ecology House as I hope to provide insight into just one of many housing options on North Campus! 

The Community at Eco 

The Ecology House is slightly away from North Campus, so the community is tight-knit and relies on everyone working with each other to maintain the space. The house offers an industrial kitchen with shared kitchenware, fridges, freezers to hold your food, and personal lockers to hold dry goods. Many of my most vivid memories at the house were in the kitchen, as it was a place where people came together and celebrated the joy of cooking (and eating) food. The house also had a “Kitchen Krew” schedule, during which a different group of residents would collaborate to ensure the kitchen was clean each week for the entire community. Other communal spaces include study lounges and a noise-proof room on the basement level called the Narnia Room because of its wall decorations reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia. These rooms are great for a productive work session or hanging out with friends! 

What’s Offered at Eco? 

The Ecology House emphasizes everything environmental-related: environmental justice, composting, and recycling. The house has a compost program organized by a student compost manager, which encourages everyone to compost their food waste. Many students also donate clothing to an area in the first-floor lounge that promotes clothes recycling. The RAs and RHD (resident hall director) also organize exciting outdoor events, such as canoeing on Beebe Lake and an overnight trip to the Hoffman Challenge Course, a ropes course Cornell offers around 20 minutes away from Ithaca! 

Eco’s Location 

One aspect of the Ecology House that some students underestimate is the extra distance it is away from campus. It is a couple of minutes' walk from the dining halls and exercise facilities, so do keep this in mind if you select the Ecology House as a housing option. To combat this worry, living in the house provides a free TCAT bus pass, which helps students get to campus faster, especially since there is a bus stop right outside the residence and another stop a short walk away. If you are considering bringing a car, there is a parking lot for the Ecology House, so many students tend to bring their vehicle, providing another efficient transportation method. And if you don’t mind the walk, you can always get a good workout on your way to class!