The academic buildings at Christopher Newport University are very different from each other. Each building specializes in different fields of study. However, which academic building is the best? As someone who has had classes in all three of these buildings during my time at CNU, I think that my rankings could be more neutral than others who spend their time solely in one building.
- McMurran Hall
McMurran Hall is the best building on campus. It has an elevator that is located somewhat close to the front door, a vending machine on the second floor and spacious bathrooms. On top of that, the way to get to a classroom is the most convenient.
The elevator is in a very good location. Once a person walks onto the first floor, all they need to do is make a left turn and the elevator is right there. While the elevator may be slow going down, it is worth the wait. Personally, I would rather wait for an elevator than dash up the stairs and be out of breath before my morning class.
The only concern I have with McMurran is the lounge areas but I hardly use them in the other buildings. If there were couches instead of chairs on the left side of the first floor, I would say that this building has nothing wrong with it. The classrooms on the first floor can take some adjusting if you are not used to them, but most classes I have taken are not on the first floor. As a result, these concerns are not as major as one may think.
- Luter Hall
Luter Hall was the first building I ever had a class in on campus. When I first navigated the building, I was overwhelmed. Initially, I thought that Luter 242 would require someone to walk straight down a hall and it would end up in the back. However, they have signs everywhere that tell you where a group of numbered rooms are located. As a result, it gets easier to look for your class once you have taken a few in Luter.
The lounge areas are the best on campus. Each area is comfortable, giving you enough space to relax and work on any assignment that you have to do before going back to your dorm room. There are times where the board rooms are open during the week and if you are able to get there before anyone else does, nobody will bother you.
The only problem I have with Luter is the amount of places that are reserved for PCSE and business majors. As a communication studies major, why do we not get our own area to study? Personally, I think that students who have a major in Luter should be allowed to access any study room they want in the building with their key card. Hopefully the new Luter building offers this.
- Forbes Hall
Forbes is the most complicated building I have had to navigate at CNU. The lack of signs that tell you where you are going annoys me. Fortunately, I have only had to go to three different classrooms in Forbes and have had a class in the same room for two semesters in a row. But that is two semesters too many. I will never understand how people who go to Forbes know which rooms are labs and which are classrooms – it is a true skill.
In a similar way to Luter, the lounge areas are nice. It gives off the vibe of a library where everyone is quiet and doing their work. While I do not study in the academic buildings, I would highly recommend doing so if you have a sizable gap between classes and need to get work done.
The only way I would ever willingly take a class in Forbes is if it was in a lecture hall. There’s one on the first floor, directly in front of you when you enter the building. Otherwise, I would avoid Forbes at all cost. Even the elevator on the first floor is hidden off to the left.
In my opinion, this is how I would rank the three main academic buildings on campus. While there are other academic buildings that I have not mentioned, such as the Fine Arts Center and the Torggler, I have not taken a class in either building. Therefore, I cannot make an opinion on them. As long as you are able to avoid Forbes during your undergraduate years at CNU, you will never get lost.
