Sophomore Housing
Sophomore year at RISD is a transitional period for students as they navigate their major degree program. To support this transition, we offer designated sophomore area communities. These communities provide students with a close-knit, independent living experience. Students living in a sophomore area can navigate their new majors together while forging new connections and pathways for success. They also benefit from targeting programs and events that help them develop concrete connections between academic and extracurricular experiences.
All rising sophomores are given priority housing selection to choose rooms in sophomore area communities in the residence halls listed below.
15 West Alcove Suites and Lofts
Located in downtown Providence, 15 West houses sophomores and upperclass students—more than 500 in all. It offers various living style options and amenities, and is home to the Fleet Library and Portfolio Cafe. Sophomores live in the Alcove Suites on floors 3–5 and lofts on floors 10-11 while floors 6–11 are apartment style spaces for juniors, seniors, fifth-year students and some graduate students.
Room types and amenities:
Alcove suites
Room types:
- single
- double
- triple
Alcove suites are made up of 2 bedrooms configured in the following ways:
- single/double
- single/triple
- double/double
- double/triple
Bedroom amenities:
- extra-long twin beds
- dressers or closet spaces
- desks with desk chairs
- a single microfridge with microwave, to be shared between residents of each room (excluding 15 West, where students share a communal fridge in their suite (see below))
Shared amenities:
- a medium-sized refrigerator
- kitchen cabinets
- full bathroom (toilet, sink, shower/tub)
Double and triple lofts
- extra-long twin mattresses for each student
- individual dressers
- individual desks and desk chairs
- individual “closet” spaces
- full kitchen (full oven/electric cooktop, full fridge, cabinet storage space)
- living room area with couch, loveseat, end/coffee table and dining table
- full bathroom (toilet, sink, shower/tub)
Mini loft
- extra-long twin mattresses for each student
- individual dressers
- individual desks and chairs
- “closet” space
- full bathroom (toilet, sink, shower/tub)
- kitchenette (counter, cabinets and small fridge; no stove or cooktop)
Two-bedroom loft
Bedroom amenities
- extra-long twin bed
- dresser
- desk with chair
- “closet” space
Shared amenities
- full kitchen (full oven/electric cooktop, full fridge, cabinet storage space)
- full bathroom (toilet, sink, shower/tub)
Hill Houses
The Hill Houses are renovated historic homes on College Hill that create a small, unique and strong community for students in their second year. Featuring beautiful architectural details, these houses contain either single or shared (double and triple) rooms, and share community resources like study/work rooms, kitchens, social lounges and communal or semi-private bathrooms. Each Hill House is appointed one resident advisor (RA) and typically houses between 15–30 students.
Room types:
- single
- shared double, triple or quad
Sophomore residential experience
Living together, sophomores participate in a variety of residence hall programs that provide support and community throughout the year. These programs, aimed exclusively at sophomores, are led by Residence Life professional staff, resident assistants (RAs), advocates for inclusion in residence (AIRs) and partnering teams across campus.
Dining
All on-campus housing includes a Dining Allotment that is built into your room and board. You cannot remove the dining allotment from the total cost of housing. Students living in Sophomore Housing receive an Essential Dining Allotment. For more information about the Essential Dining Allotment, visit dining.risd.edu.
Heating and cooling
Residence hall heating and cooling systems vary by location. See below for more information.
15 West
Rooms in 15 West offer both heating and air conditioning and are equipped with thermostats that, in general, control the temperature within a full apartment, suite or loft. Residents are able to choose between heating or cooling their room at any time of year, regardless of season.
Hill Houses
Similar to many private homes, the Hill Houses are heated via a central boiler. Heat is available at almost any time of year. However, air conditioning is not available in these facilities.
Some bedrooms in the Hill Houses have individual fan units that help with temperature control. A small door on the wall-mounted fan coil gives access to the control switch. Note that, even if the fan is not running, heat can still be transferred into the room if heat is being called to another part of the floor or area.
Other Hill Houses are equipped with baseboard radiators without fan control. Residents can control the amount of heat delivered to a room by adjusting the louver on the baseboard unit.
The heating systems in the Hill Houses are programmed to activate if the temperature drops below approximately 60 degrees. If you feel your heating system is malfunctioning, please complete a facility work order form.