Beginning At Balch: Life At North Campus’s Newest Dorm

Renovations are a common sight at Cornell, and one of the most significant projects recently completed on North Campus is the update to Balch Hall. The all-women’s dorm, known for its historic Gothic architecture, has undergone a transformation that blends its historic aesthetic with a modern element, creating a unique living experience for students.

KENKARE | A Love Letter to North Campus

My freshman year at Cornell was probably the best year of my life so far. I stayed up until 5 a.m. every night participating in hallway-wide gossip sessions, proudly strode into Sunday RPCC brunches in pajamas and last night’s mascara and never, ever called home — because when you’re 18 and having the time of your life, why would you? The sheer novelty of the college experience, the number of smart-mouthed, like-minded people I met at Cornell, definitely contributed to my incredible year. But upon reflection, I realize there was another factor. Although I’m sure the creators of North Campus meant to construct another damp and depressing group of dorms (West Campus reminds me forcibly of J.K. Rowling’s Knockturn Alley), they somehow stumbled upon the formula for a home, a community unto itself.