Take a Tour Inside the Best. Dorms. Ever.

By Champlain Media Team - Posted on December 17, 2024

First-year students live in one of the 21 beautifully restored Victorian-era mansions that ring our central campus. Did we say mansions? Yes, yes we did.

These grand and stately homes in the historic Hill Section of Burlington retain the gorgeous woodwork, bay windows, stained glass, and curved staircases of their era, but all have been updated to include ultrafast Wi-Fi, live and on-demand streaming TV and movies, laundry facilities, and other amenities. No two rooms are alike. Come take a peek inside!

resident advisor talks with another student in hallway of res hall

students using a VR headset in a dorm room

students sit on the stoop of a residence hall talking and studying

two students talk while standing on the front porch of a residence hall

Best. Dorms. EVER!

Champlain’s Victorian mansions are more than just historic buildings—they’re living, breathing spaces that reflect the College’s commitment to preserving its heritage while fostering a welcoming, modern environment for students.

student makes a heart shape with their hands while sitting on their twin bed in a residence hall

student sits at a fireplace in a residence hall common area

two roommates sitting in their dorm room having a conversation

two students sit in a dorm room talking casually — Hill Hall

students walking around the outside of a residence hall, greenery

Student sitting on the dorm floor working in a notebook and laptop

Students hanging out in a decorated dorm room. Photos and lights hang around the room

a dorm interior with two beds, two desks, and a fireplace

With no more than 50 people per house, students are sure to find new friends and make incredible memories. Resident Assistants (RA) live in each house to provide guidance, plan events and activities, and suggest the best places to grab a bite downtown.

snowboarding at Finney Quad — *First-year and upper-year res halls ring Finney Quad, one of the most popular hangout spots on campus. It’s home to Champlain’s annual Rail Jam, hosted by the Ski & Ride Club.*

First-Year Residence Halls

371 Main Street

Victorian-Era Mansion

Located in the heart of the college town, 371 Main Street is a quick walk up the street from campus and has many great amenities for its first-year students.

Bader Hall

Victorian-Era Mansion

Bader neighbors the Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM), the IDX Student Life Center, and is just a short walk away from other academic buildings.

Bankus Hall

Victorian-Era Mansion

Bankus Hall sits directly across from main campus. A popular feature is a large front yard—perfect for meeting students from other halls and hanging outside to toss a Frisbee or watch the stars.

View All First-Year Residence Halls

371 Main Street

Housing Type	Victorian-Era Mansion
Housing for…	First-year students
Number of Students	36
Distance from the Center of Campus	3 blocks
Types of Rooms	Standard Bedroom
Features	Kitchen break hall that remains open during semester breaks

Description

The Victorian residence was originally built by Alfred B. Fisher for Charles R. and Ella Hayward. Most rooms in this Victorian mansion have large windows, bathing the building with lots of natural light. The Haywards’s elegant residence contains Italianate and Queen Anne-style design elements and still retains many of its Victorian features, including bay windows, pocket doors, a main staircase, and a cupola. The ornate carved stone fireplaces, entry flooring, and wall accents were likely sourced from the Hayward marble business, the Burlington Manufacturing Company. This hall was renovated in 2023 to provide ADA access to the ground floor, updated kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms, an updated living room, and AC/ventilation throughout. 371 Main also has a large lawn, making it an ideal spot for people looking to kick a soccer ball around or just enjoy the Vermont sunshine.

Location

Located in the heart of the college town, 371 Main Street is a quick walk up the street from campus and has many great amenities for its first-year students.

Common Spaces

Common room, full kitchen

Outdoor Spaces

Large lawn

Namesake

N/A

Bader Hall

Housing Type	Victorian-Era Mansion
Housing for…	First-year students
Number of Students	21
Distance from the Center of Campus	Less Than 1 Block
Types of Rooms	Standard Bedroom
Features	Proximity to campus and shuttle stop

Description

Originally constructed in 1873, Bader Hall was home to Edward Lyman, a Burlington business owner, his wife, Minerva, and their daughter, also named Minerva (Minnie). Minnie and her husband Robert Roberts inherited the house and lived there while Roberts served as Mayor of Burlington. After Champlain College bought the property in 1960, it served as an administration building before becoming a residence hall. The hall has been fully renovated, creating an inviting student experience while carefully honoring the elegant architectural features, such as restored millwork, doorways, and lighting fixtures. The hall has been outfitted with geothermal heating and cooling to support Champlain’s commitment to sustainability. Bader neighbors the Center for Communication & Creative Media (CCM), the IDX Student Life Center, and is just a short walk away from other academic buildings.

Location

Conveniently located in the central campus at the corner of Maple and South Willard streets, Bader Hall boasts beautiful west-facing views of Lake Champlain for students to enjoy.

Common Spaces

Common room

Outdoor Spaces

CCM Building, Campus Shuttle Stop

Namesake

Champlain President C. Bader Brouilette chose the name Bader Hall to honor his mother, Edith Bader. The formal name of the building is Edith Bader Hall.

Bankus Hall

Housing Type	Victorian-Era Mansion
Housing for…	First-year students
Number of Students	45
Distance from the Center of Campus	Less Than 1 Block
Types of Rooms	Standard Bedroom
Features	Student lounge

Description

Architect Alfred B. Fisher designed this property, which was built in 1889 for prominent Burlington lawyer Henry Ballard, who resided there until 1902. The building was home to several families before being converted to a dormitory in 1946. Champlain College purchased it in 1992. The house has undergone extensive renovation since its purchase. Complete with porches and a student lounge, this hall is a space to create community, and one can often find a hammock or two in front of Bankus on warm evenings. Another popular feature is a large front yard—perfect for meeting students from other halls and hanging outside to toss a Frisbee or watch the stars (the lack of light pollution here makes the stars incredible)! The hall is close to the Champlain Community Garden.

Location

Located across the street from the Main Campus on South Willard Street, Bankus Hall is nestled between two other first-year residence halls, Jensen and Rowell. Students can enjoy close proximity to campus resources and plenty of outdoor and community spaces.

Common Spaces

Common room

Outdoor Spaces

Side porch

Namesake

Bankus Hall was named for John Bankus, Vice President of Finance at Champlain College from 1965 to 1977.

two students sit and chat in a 194 common room overlooking lake champlain while a third students sits at a desk in the bedroom on a laptop — When students are ready to put a little more distance between home and campus, they can choose contemporary suite-style residence halls surrounding Finney Quad or deluxe apartments with Lake Champlain and mountain views in downtown Burlington—just a short walk from campus and the waterfront.

Want to live here? Learn more about Champlain’s innovative and career-focused academics. We put your success at the center of everything we do. Bring your passion, your motivation, and your best ideas with you to Champlain and plan to learn the skills that will help you make the world a better place.

Make a plan to visit campus for personal tours or on of our open house events!

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Champlain Media Team

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Take a Tour Inside the Best. Dorms. Ever.

First-year students live in one of the 21 beautifully restored Victorian-era mansions that ring our central campus. Did we say mansions? Yes, yes we did.

Best. Dorms. EVER!

First-Year Residence Halls

371 Main Street

Bader Hall

Bankus Hall

Looking for more information about Champlain College? Start here!

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