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Northwestern University
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Northwestern University - Facilities - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.46

Facilities

B
Where does this grade come from?View all Facilities rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Facilities Grades:

Quick Stats

Service & Maintenance Staff 184
Campus Size 240 acres
Student Centers Norris University Center
Campus Library? Yes
Main Libraries
  • Northwestern University Library
  • Schaffner Library (Chicago campus)
  • Science and Engineering Library
Popular Places to Chill
  • Friends’ apartments
  • Lakefill
  • Lisa’s Café
  • Norris University Center
Bar on Campus None
Bowling on Campus None
Coffeehouse on Campus
  • Crowe Café at Crowe Hall
  • Lisa’s Café at Slivka Residential College
  • Plaza Café at University Library
  • Tech Express at the Technological Institute
  • Willie’s Too at Norris University Center
Movie Theater on Campus McCormick Auditorium

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

As far as facilities go, NU does a good job providing decent homes for most of its departments. Buildings like the McCormick Tribune Center (the hub of the Medill School of Journalism), Crowe Hall, and a complex of science labs and buildings on North Campus, including the new Silverman Hall for Molecular Biology Research, are some of the nicest on campus. None of the buildings are dumps; some are just a bit more outdated. University Library is a sprawling temple of books, and Deering Library will make you feel like you've entered the world of Harry Potter. The Technological Institute, or Tech as it's known around campus, is the most noteworthy building on campus, as it's one of the largest in the country. It even has a hidden Einstein Bagels Co. location. It's more than likely you'll end up having a class here because it has the large lecture halls necessary for most of the big intro classes. Norris University Center really has everything a college student would need: conference rooms, a Starbucks (nicknamed "Norbucks"), a game room in the basement, bookstore, and a food court that offers everything from Jamba Juice to sushi.

As for gyms, Northwestern has several options. Blomquist on South Campus is a great place for pickup basketball and volleyball games. It’s also home to a slew of treadmills and a few weightlifting machines. You'll usually see a dance or judo class going on or maybe some IM basketball. On North Campus, Patten Gymnasium is another basketball haven, with IM floor hockey taking up residence in the winter. A weight room in the basement is usually packed with serious weightlifters. The Sports Pavilion and Aquatic Center, or SPAC (pronounced "spack"), is the jewel of campus, with basketball/volleyball courts, indoor pool, indoor track, racquetball/squash courts, tennis courts, and weights (both machines and free weights), for starters. Anything you need for fitness, you'll find it at SPAC.

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Northwestern University Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Facilities at Northwestern University

WildCat1992

'15

Performing Arts

4.2
A-

Gorgeous Campus, Decent Buildings

The facilities are generally nice- there are definitely some beautiful buildings here. The SPAC gym/rec center is absolutely wonderful, but Blomquist gym is not very nice. The library is impressive and gigantic, and the Deering library looks like something out of Harry Potter. In general, the buildings on campus are pretty acceptable, but the dorms certainly vary. It's a pretty gorgeous campus.

Dec 06, 2011

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Facilities at Northwestern University

NatalieP

'15

Sociology

4.6
A

Student Center, Athletic Facilities, and Libraries All Very Nice

The facilities are Northwestern are pretty great. Norris, the student center, is super convenient and a good choice for a meal every now and then. They have Jamba Juice, Starbucks, and Sbarro inside--just to name a few. There are three athletic facilities on campus, but SPAC is by far the nicest. It's a great place to work out. The two libraries are also extensive and provide a good atmosphere to get work done.

Nov 25, 2011

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Facilities at Northwestern University

jasbaz

'14

Radio and Television Broadcasting Technician

3.5
B

So-So

Some of the facilities are great and some should be completely redone. The biggest problem is that everything is spread out. SPAC is a great athletic center but for someone living on the south side of campus, it is unreasonably far to go for a workout. Norris (the student center) is great!

Nov 20, 2011

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Photos of Northwestern University's Facilities

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Northwestern University - Pick-Staiger Concert HallPick-Staiger Concert Hall
Photo by Paradoxsociety
Northwestern University - TechTech
Photo by sethumz
Tech A look at the technological institute.
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Photo by sethumz
Northwestern University - Cahn Auditorium and Scott HallCahn Auditorium and Scott Hall
Photo by Paradoxsociety

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

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Facts

"Green" Initiatives

There's a G.R.E.E.N. (Group Residence for Environmental Engagement at Northwestern) living community on campus for environmentally conscious residents. The housing features things like cold showers and eco-friendly light bulbs. Basically, if it's something green, it's in this house.

Favorite Things To Do

Between classes, work, and extracurriculars, there's no shortage of entertainment at NU. Students can enjoy one of the hundreds of student theater productions at Shanley Pavilion, share a cup of joe at Lisa's Café, catch a flick on A&O Productions, or throw a pot at ARTica Studios. Students can also play beach volleyball, sail, bike ride, inline skate, or catch a show at the Century Theater.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at NU

Name: Kevin Echavarria

Hometown: San Antonio, Texas

Major: Journalism/Comparative Literary Studies

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