Whether you're in the College of Engineering or the College of Agriculture, everyone on Purdue's campus has experienced having a class in an awful campus building. As much as we love our university, we would all be lying if we said there weren't buildings that could use a makeover or a new location. From the buildings located halfway to Middle Earth to staircases that never end, here is a list of the eight worst buildings to have a class in on campus.
1. University Hall
The architecture of University is a little like M.C. Escher’s “Impossible Staircase.” It can be extremely confusing, the hallways are terribly cramped, and the elevator is sketchier than a beat up, windowless white van parked next to you in the depths of a parking garage.
2. Mechanical Engineering
Let’s face it, this building is just inconvenience in structural form. First off, the old and new buildings only connect on the first and third floor. I’d prefer not walking up upstairs then back down again just to get to the same floor on the other side. I’m going to class, not trying to get my cardio in for the day. Secondly, you cannot find any room in this place. I’ve never been so confused and turned around in a single building. Does anyone else think they’ve walked through the portal to Narnia at least once while going through these halls?
3. Physics
I’m sorry, but female bathrooms absolutely do not exist here. I don’t even think Christopher Columbus could stumble across one if he was roaming the building. Not to mention, it’s so far out of the way that you’re always late to class.
4. Lynn Hall
It’s all the way in the Agriculture Mall and impossible to get to if you only have a 10-minute gap between classes. The only saving grace is that most professors who teach in this building will understand, without question, if you have to arrive late to class or leave a little early. Pro-tip: slip by Starbucks during your commute on occasion.
5. Lyles Porter Hall
Have you ever even heard of this building? Neither have 80 percent of Purdue’s students. It’s incredibly far away and like all other buildings on the campus perimeter, impossible to get to in time for class.
6. Yue-Kong Pao Hall
The stairs in this building are the worst. There are four flights that could honestly be the equivalent of eight floors in the building. Speaking from the point of view of someone who has had class on the fourth floor, there needs to be a rest stop halfway up. And if you think the elevator is a viable solution, think again. As big of a workout as it is, I could probably go up and down all four flights of stairs twice before the elevator got from the top of the building to the bottom.
7. Heavilon Hall
Ratchet does not even begin to describe this building. It blatantly shows how little funding the English department at Purdue receives. So many things in this building need to be updated, starting with the restrooms. Being of average height, there’s a major issue if I can see over the top of the bathroom stalls when I’m standing up. Also, is it too much to ask for a desk that I can fit more than my elbow on?
8. A.A. Potter Engineering Center
Now, on any normal day, this building wouldn’t be too bad to have class in, but, because Purdue is constantly in a state of flux and littered with construction work, it’s nearly impossible to navigate to. Seriously. Google directions here and it’ll tell you to turn left at McDonald’s, navigate to the back alleyway, you’ll meet a man in blue trench coat named Larry, and he’ll point you in the direction of the A.A. Potter Engineering Center.
