The inside scoop on campus housing from an ex-residence advisor

Hey, future students – let’s talk about all things housing! Understandably so, one of the biggest things folks are interested in when it comes to their future university is the residence buildings they offer. Although Ryerson has quite the commuter population, there are lots of people (myself included) who opt to stay on-campus. And while I’d love to ramble on about why it’s one of the best decisions I ever made, I figured I was getting ahead of myself. Before I tell you how much I love it, I thought I should do a little explainer. As someone who has lived in residence for two years both as a student and as a residence advisor, I’ve spent a lot of time in the different residence buildings. So allow me to break it down for you and share my personal experiences. Without further ado, let’s get into it!

1. Daphne Cockwell Complex (DCC) (external link, opens in new window) 

The DCC building is the newest residence on campus. A quick overview: there are two room styles both of which are apartments, a two-bedroom and a four-bedroom. The DCC building is ideal for someone looking to experience the typical dorm life in a more fresh and modern room. With huge windows allowing for great natural light and a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline, this place was the dorm room of my dreams. I felt like I was living in a high-end condo, and it just happened to be two minutes away from class. I also love that each apartment style is fully equipped with its own washroom, snack prep area/kitchen plus a living space. P.S: the living rooms are huge, watch the tour linked above to see for yourself!

2. Pitman Hall (external link, opens in new window) 

I lived in Pitman Hall my first year and it was a blast, to say the least. If you’re looking for a traditional dorm life experience, Pitman is definitely the place for you. There is always so much happening all the time that there’s never a dull moment. There are also a huge myriad of options when it comes to picking what room style you want which is so amazing since they cater to practically everyone. From how many bedrooms to who you’d like to room with; you can list your preferences and they do their best to cater to them! Pitman Hall also has a dining area and several study/event spaces. I made some of my best friends and also some of my greatest memories during the time that I lived here.

3. International Living & Learning Centre (ILC) (external link, opens in new window) 

So while I’ve never personally lived at ILC, I’ve spent a lot of time hanging out here! In both my first and second year, I had best friends who lived here so I spent a great deal of time in this building––enough that I feel qualified to speak on it! Now before I begin, I’d like to share one super important thing that ILC has that none of the other buildings do: Queen sized beds! So if you’re someone whose sleep is more important to you than anything else, look no further; ILC is the place for you! Also, a little fun fact – ILC actually used to be a hotel before it was transformed into a dorm, which is also why every room has its own washroom. Most rooms in this building are singles with a few double rooms on each floor. ILC is extremely cozy and ideal for folks who enjoy spending a lot of time in their bedrooms.

All the residence buildings are so unique and I’ve loved my experience with each and every one of them.