SCAD First Quarter: Dorms

There are four primary Freshman dorms at SCAD and I am relatively familiar with all of them.  I'll give you my report of each in alphabetical order.

1. D at the Hive (Formerly Dyson House)
• From my research I think this used to be a Howard Johnson hotel, which SCAD originally started leasing in 2004 to accommodate dorm overflow.  The name was only changed this year, so students who lived there previously still refer to it as Dyson.  This is probably the worst dorm of the four, and was formerly know as Dirty Dyson.  That's not just a rumor either, it was/is actually called that by people, as I've met some upperclassmen who call it that.  The rooms vary in size, from probably an average dorm size to tiny: the smallest I've seen was probably only 10-12 feet wide and the same distance long and double occupancy.  It has the smallest rooms in general and in several places is known for cockroaches.  Also when the dorms have Internet or network issues, the back half of Dyson seems to be the slowest to recover.  However, I have several friends who live in Dyson and are absolutely fine with it, and it has a pool.
• In terms of convenience, this dorm is second closest to the dining hall and the package center, and attached to the only locally situated computer lab for Freshman.  It has the farthest walk to the bus stops though.
2. Turner Annex
• I believe this used to be a Best Western hotel, but I've only heard that from word of mouth and am unable to confirm it.  I lived in this dorm over summer break for one night.  The rooms run from average to large, and unlike the other three dorms, the doors access inside the building.  The other three dorms have rooms that access covered walkways exposed to the elements, whereas "Tannex" has an internal hallway like most modern hotels and windows that face out.  Tannex also has a pool.  I don't know much beyond this, as I don't have friends who stay there.
• In terms of convenience, this dorm is only slightly closer to the dining hall, computer lab and package center than Turner, so still a bit of a hike.  However it's a pretty short walk to the bus stops.
3. Turner House
• The property where Turner sits used to hold two rows of dilapidated railroad sheds, which SCAD tore down.  Turner was the first building owned by SCAD built from the ground up and was completed in 2001. Because it was built as a dorm, it comes with some perks.  It has a convenience store, the express office and card services, a weight room in the basement (which I'm pretty sure not many people outside of sports teams use), and the Artisan Deli.  All the rooms are generally the same size, and because of an accident in 2008 and the resulting inquiry, I can say with confidence the railings are safe.  This is usually everyone's' first choice for a dorm, it was mine, but I didn't realize how bad the trek was, so I'm glad I ended up where I did.
• This is probably the most inconvenient dorm to stay at, as you have to make a bit of a trek to get to the dining hall, the computer lab or the package center.  And don't underestimate the trek either, you have to traverse the "smoking bridge,"* the equivalent of two or three flights of stairs, and whatever the weather decides to be.  However, the bus stops are directly adjacent to this dorm, so it has the shortest walk.
4. W at the Hive (Formerly Weston House)
• This is  the one I live in!  Also a former hotel, and I believe the oldest of the Freshman dorms by virtue of being the first of the four owned by SCAD, Weston has the largest dorms in terms of square footage.  We used to have a pool, but it was filled in and replaced with a sand volleyball court.
• This is probably the best dorm in terms of convenience.  The dining hall and Weston share a wall, so we are literally attached to it and therefore the closest.  Weston also contains the package center, which again makes us the closest.  We are right across the parking lot from Dyson, so it's but a short walk to the computer lab.  The bus stops are not convenient and we probably are only slightly closer to them than Dyson.

Shared Qualities
Do note that all the dorm rooms have their own bathrooms, there are not community style bathrooms at SCAD.  All the dorm buildings have paid laundry facilities, although Turner has one on each of its six floors.  All the buildings also have individual mailboxes, but if you get packages you must pick them up from Weston at the package center.  Because three out of the four dorms were hotels and the other was built by SCAD, parking space appears plentiful; I say "appears" because I do not drive here, so I have no firsthand experience with the parking situation.  Also, if you bike (like me) there are plenty of bike racks and you don't have to worry about the bus stop issue unless its raining.

*: The "smoking bridge" is a former railroad bridge that connects Turner to the complex where the dining hall, Weston and Dyson are.  It gets its name because it has smoking poles so all the SCAD students that smoke can do so out there.  I hold my breath when I walk across it.