STORY BY

MEREDITH KENT

PHOTOS BY

KENDRA GILES

DESIGN BY

PEARL LANGLEY

Building Considerations for Class Scheduling

The Pros and Cons of Each Major Class Building on UA’s Campus

The University of Alabama has been recognized for having one of the most beautiful campuses nationwide. Filled with beautiful architecture and bustling students, UA’s class buildings are adornments that add to the drawl of the noteworthy campus. First-year students often encounter anywhere between one and thirteen of the following buildings and I am here to give you the honest truth on the pros and cons of each building you will probably come into contact with at some point in your time here at UA.

 
Mary Hewell Alston Hall

Photo of Alston Hall

Alston Hall

The first building on our list is Mary Hewell Alston Hall, or more commonly referred to as “Alston” by University students. Alston is a part of the Culverhouse College of Business and is located behind Bidgood Hall off of The Quad. Business students of all specialties can enjoy Alston’s large lecture halls and technological advances. There are pros to these attributes but there are also cons depending on the student’s personality and classroom preferences. For students who prefer to blend into a large-group setting and absorb their information lectured style, Alston provides the perfect environment. However, for business students who enjoy discussion-based learning and smaller classroom numbers, looking for classes that are offered in Bidgood Hall may be better for their individual learning style.

Pros:

  • big lecture halls satisfy students stereotypical college lecture image
  • perfect classroom atmosphere for students who prefer to just listen

Cons:

  • challenging for students who like discussion-oriented learning
  • office hours are a must if students want individual help or a good relationship with your professors

Final Rating: 3.5/5 Denny Chimes

 
Bidgood Hall

Photo of Bidgood Hall

Bidgood Hall

That brings us to Bidgood Hall, another Culverhouse College of Business building. While you can find the occasional large class size in this centrally located building, the average underclassmen class size is around fifty students. The smaller environment provided in Bidgood allows for students to become more involved in discussions and ask questions more confidently during class meetings. “I feel more confident asking questions during class and I am usually able to build a better relationship with my professor”, says accounting student, Ford Westjohn. Bidgood offers those smaller group environments that allow student’s professors to get to know a student’s personality and learning styles and use them to benefit the student over the course of the semester. This instills confidence in more timid students and embraces the confidence of those students who love to contribute to the conversation. So, if you are a business student and need a boost of confidence or a place to gradually get you adjusted to a college learning environment, looking for classes in Bidgood Hall would be beneficial to you.

Pros:

  • relatively smaller class sizes
  • more personalized learning
  • the ability to build a relationship with your professors

Cons:

  • older building
  • the first-floor kind of has a stale smell to it

Final Rating: 4/5 Denny Chimes

 
B.B. Comer Hall

Photo of BB Comer Hall

BB Comer Hall

B.B. Comer Hall is next. It is home to the university’s foreign language department, but students can also find miscellaneous classes that meet in B.B. Comer such as literature discussion sections and creative writing courses. Located right off of the Ferguson Promenade, B.B. Comer’s yellow brick facade is very eye-catching. What is even more eye-catching, however, are the stairs that lead up to the second floor. The stairs are not architecturally profound by any means, but the number of stairs one must take to reach the next floor will leave you out of breath. Other than the stairs, though, B.B. Comer has very few flaws. Despite being built in the early twentieth century, the facilities in B.B. Comer seem very well cared for and modern. If a small classroom is what you seek out, then B.B. Comer is definitely for you. With classes averaging in at about twenty-five students per class, B.B. Comer allows students to show who they truly are, speak up in the classroom, and make connections with their professors and classmates.

Pros:

  • small class sizes that encourage a community united by learning
  • roller chairs that allow for a flexible classroom

Cons:

  • STAIRS

Final Rating: 4.5/5 Denny Chimes

 
Farrah Hall

Photo of Farrah Hall

Farrah Hall

In my opinion, our next building, Farrah Hall is the most undesirable building on campus. Farrah has several nice components to it including lecture halls, Criminal Justice Department offices, and the geography department’s map library. However, those attributes are about all that Farrah is good for. The negative side of Farrah is that Farrah’s air is always extremely stagnant making students sweat, even in December. Also, the still air creates a smell that can be perfectly described as antique furniture. When scheduling classes that are offered in Farrah, I would highly recommend seeking the class out in a different location if possible – unless you like the idea of antique furniture and humid 8am’s.

Pros:

  • map library
  • the bathrooms have a neat vanity layout

Cons:

  • smells like antique furniture
  • poor air conditioning quality creates a stagnant humidity in the building
  • old
  • chairs squeak
  • confusing layout

Final Rating: 1/5 Denny Chimes

 
Gordon Palmer Hall

Photo of Gordon Palmer Hall

Gordon Palmer Hall

The University of Alabama’s maze of a building, Gordon Palmer Hall, is located directly behind and a street over from Lloyd Hall. When upperclassmen advise you to arrive at Gordon Palmer on the first day early, they are not joking. The halls twist and turn around the building and new students often find themselves lost in the building. However, once you navigate your way to your classroom of professor’s office in Gordon Palmer, you can master the rest of the buildings on campus. As for the classrooms inside of Gordon Palmer, they are very reminiscent of a traditional high-school classroom in size and appearance. The smaller, cinderblock classrooms can either offer students a comfortingly familiar environment or leave them running in hopes to escape the reminder of the last four years. Depending on the student’s preferences and aside from the initial confusing layout, Gordon Palmer’s neutrality offers either an enjoyable experience or a horrible experience for most.

Pros:

  • comfortable familiarity in appearance
  • always bustling with people to connect with
  • versatile classes

Cons:

  • you have no idea where you are half of the time

Final Rating: 3/5 Denny Chimes

 
Morgan Hall

Photo of Morgan Hall

Morgan Hall

Morgan Hall, home to UA’s English Department, is a special building. The architecture is beautifully intricate, and the classrooms provide a perfectly cozy environment that makes students want to settle down with a good book or watch a good show at the Morgan Auditorium. However, the higher up the floors one’s class is in Morgan, the cozier it gets- and by cozy, I partially mean hot. The third floor of Morgan in the early fall and late spring months can get quite uncomfortable for students. But for the majority of the year, Morgan is a desirable place for literary fanatics on campus. Classes in Morgan Hall are on the small to medium side depending on the class, and discussion and group participation are heavily encouraged in most classes offered in Morgan. However, being pushed out of one’s comfort zone is totally worth it because of the helpfulness and care the professors of the classes offered in Morgan provide their students with. So, depending on your learning preferences and willingness to step out of your comfort zone, Morgan may or may not be the building that you gravitate towards.

Pros:

  • beautiful architecture
  • cozy setting for studying
  • huge windows that let in a lot of light

Cons:

  • hot classrooms that in late August resulting in “constant smell of straight-up body odor,” according to sophomore Margo Bohannon

Final Rating: 3.5/5 Denny Chimes

 
Reese Phifer

Reese Phifer Hall

Reese Phifer Hall

Upon initial entry of Reese Phifer, students can get a little turned around, but with the help of the directional signs and staff, students can get to the room they need. Reese Phifer is located on the corner of The Quad across from Graves Hall. This building belongs to the College of Communication and Information Sciences and is where you can find classes that range from Introduction to Mass Communication to Visual Journalism. Once students find their way around the building, their time there is always enjoyable. Reese Phifer’s facilities are very up to date and the architecture, especially in the foyer of the building, is beautiful. Classrooms are a comfortable size mostly and provide a comfortable experience for students. Reese Phifer is definitely the way to go when scheduling your potential communications classes.

Pros:

  • modern building
  • comfortable classrooms
  • grand stairs to sit on and drink coffee with a friend

Cons:

  • confusing class placement
  • far walking distance from the north side of campus

Final Rating: 5/5 Denny Chimes

 
Shelby Hall

Shelby Hall is where you will find most of your science, engineering, and mathematics-related classes. This building, located on the engineering quad, is one of the most beautifully designed buildings on campus It’s huge marble walls leave students speechless upon their first time there. “The inside, when you first walk in is beautiful”, UA biology student, Caroline Robinson says, “but, the classrooms definitely could use a facelift. As a premed student, I have a lot of notes and the desk space and lack of mobility in Shelby don’t allow me to utilize all of them. Also, Shelby definitely needs more seating because my classes are usually full.” If convenience and comfort while learning is of the utmost importance, then Shelby has its flaws, but most students have an average experience while in Shelby Hall.

Pros:

  • beautiful to look at whether you are a STEM student studying there or just passing by

Cons:

  • tight study spaces
  • lack of room to spread learning materials out on
  • far walk for students on the south end of campus

Final Rating: 4/5 Denny Chimes

 
Russell Hall

Photo of Russell Hall

Russell Hall

Next up is Russell Hall. Most students will come into contact with Russell Hall because it is one of a few buildings that have a lecture hall of the magnitude that it does. Russell 159 is a lecture hall that can accommodate almost five hundred students. Russell is a modern building on UA’s campus that serves as a common meeting spot for organizations, a facility to house large
lectures, and the perfect opportunity to branch out and meet new and different people. Russell Hall is also home to the Student Services Office and the Office of First-Year Experience. Off the bat, Russell seems like an ideal building for students who love involvement, meeting new people, and large lecture environments

Pros:

large classrooms full of opportunity to learn new things and make new friends

Cons:

far walk from most places on campus

Final Rating: 5/5 Denny Chimes

 
ten Hoor Hall

Photo of ten Hoor Hall

ten Hoor Hall

ten Hoor Hall is a far walk from The Quad, but the things offered in ten Hoor make it worth the walk. ten Hoor offers classes that cover a variety of areas of study such as political science, philosophy, and theatre. There is also a variety of class sizes. Political science student, Sarah Head, says that she likes having class in ten Hoor because “classes can be large in the lecture hall, for example, but most classes have less than fifty people which I personally really like.” ten Hoor is the ideal environment for students who love both moderately small classrooms and large lectures but still want a chance for a personalized experience.

Pros:

  • next to a parking deck
  • versatile classroom sizes

Cons:

  • small desk space
  • limited and sometimes lack of seating in classrooms

Final Rating: 4/5 Denny Chimes

 
Lloyd Hall

Photo of Lloyd Hall

Lloyd Hall

Lloyd is the favorite building of many because of its central location and of course its food court. Students buzz in and out of Lloyd all day for a midday snack before class. Aside from the infamous Chick-fil-A line, Lloyd houses classes of all sorts. “So many different classes are offered in Lloyd that’s why it’s my favorite building,” says UA student Olivia Davis. Students all over campus agree with comments like Davis’s and agree that an overall feeling of joy comes with the thoughts of Lloyd Hall.

Pros:

  • centrally located
  • Chick-fil-A

Cons:

  • too much traffic in stairways
  • slippery when rains
  • a lot of students populate the hallways

Final Rating: 5/5 Denny Chimes

 
North Lawn Hall

Another building that you will come into contact with is North Lawn. North Lawn, one of UA’s newest buildings is located on the very north end of campus. North Lawn has a hodgepodge of classes placed in it and it is composed of all fairly large classrooms. Some students love North Lawn because of its size; however, others hate it. It is all dependent on the personality of the student at hand. One thing that everyone can agree on is that North Lawn is one long walk across campus for almost everybody, but if you are in the fifty percent of students that love North Lawn then it is totally worth it.

Pros:

  • technologically advanced
  • more opportunities with larger classes
  • newly built

Cons:

  • far from most points on campus
  • the printers never work – like ever

Final Rating: 4/5 Denny Chimes

 
Nott Hall

Photo of Nott Hall

Nott Hall

The University of Alabama’s Honor’s College Building, Nott Hall, is also centrally located next door to Lloyd right off of The Quad. At first glance, Nott can seem very intimidating with several offices that line the first floor and art decorating that long stretches of hallways. However, being greeted by the antiquated red carpeting, wood paneling, and smiles quickly make up for that. Nott Hall also houses the Microbiology department creating a divide in the utilization of the building. Specific sections of Nott Hall can be confusing to find if you are not used to being in the building but don’t worry, not as confusing as Gordon Palmer or Reese Phifer. Overall, though, the building is quiet and a great place to get work done whether it be your Microbiology Research or Honors Fine Art Project. Nott’s versatility welcomes people of all areas of study and encourages the utilization of the amazing resources that the Honor’s College provides its students. Friendly faces and helpful hands are always available when students enter the doors of Nott Hall.

Pros:

  • friendly staff
  • quiet learning environment

Cons:

  • outdated appearance
  • confusing division of the building

Final Rating: 5/5 Denny Chimes

 

All buildings, regardless of any pro or con, on UA’s campus are without a doubt something that every student should experience at least once. However, when making your first UA schedule here are a few tips to keep in the very back of your mind about UA’s thirteen most traveled buildings.