This ranking system is based on my personal experience in the three years that I have attended Stevenson. I have ranked them from best to worst.
1. Manuszak Center
MC hosts only 3 classrooms, but they take the cake as far as classrooms on Stevenson campuses. They are the most temperate, not too hot, not too cold. The rooms will only hold about 20 people, so the smallest classes get placed in those rooms.This means that there is generally a lot of room for you to use as your personal desk space.
2. Dawson Center
Dawson Center comes in second to MC, but it's a close tie. The first and second floors are the most comfortable. There are computer lab rooms, regular classrooms, and classrooms that have tables you have to share with one other person. For the most part, there are comfortable chairs, minimal desks that are broken or have gum on them, and the classrooms are set up in a way that makes it possible for you to see the board no matter where you are seated. My personal favorite bathroom is located in Dawson Center near the theatre. It sounds weird to have a favorite bathroom, but it's fine. The stalls are nicer, it's super clean, and the toilet paper is a better quality than in most of the other bathrooms. If you've utilized that facility, you would already know how sweet that bathroom is and if you haven't, check it out!
3. Brown School of Business and Leadership
If you want the nicest building to have a class in on the Owings Mills campus, this is it! This building hosts over 30 classrooms and the library. The classrooms are mostly set up as tables shared between two people and rolling desk chairs. These are super comfortable. The only complaint with this building is that is tends to be cold.
4. Science Center
The science center is generally nice. The labs are funtional and easy to use. The problem with the science center are the classrooms. There are two super nice classrooms in what is technically the science center's basement, but are truly attached to the Manuszak center. The other classroom is located in the hallway connecting the science center and Knott Hall. So technically I think it may be part of both buildings. Either way, the classrooms in the science center that are not labs are a little cramped and kind of hard to navigate, but if you don't have to go to the bathroom, you shouldn't have too many issues. The other major problem with the science center is that it smells of E. Coli practically all the time.
5. Art Wing
The art wing is technically not a wing, and is more of a gallery with a couple of classrooms. The classrooms are nice. There are seats, tables, and easels. The only major drawback is that there are floor to ceiling windows on one side of the room. So if the professor does not close the blinds, anyone can look in at you trying to do artwork.
6. Basement of Dawson Center
The basement of Dawson Center deserves it's own section, purely because it would bring down the whole ranking of Dawson Center. Not that it is a horrible area, but the classrooms are stifling. The chairs are also strange. They are desk chairs, but are attached to the tables at the bottom. So they swivel out so you can sit. So very strange. This area was also the previous home of the film program. Most of the film program has moved to Owings Mills North, but a few classes are still held in the basement of Dawson Center.
7. School of Design Building on OMN
This building is the best one on Owings Mills North, purely because it is the only finished building. However, in an overall ranking it falls a little flat. Currently, there are no dining options on the campus. If you want something to eat or drink, you should bring it with you when you go over for class. I am sure that they are including a dining location in the new science center on the campus. However, the science center will not be completed for at least another semester. The classrooms and technology available to students is top notch, but as college students, food is a priority.
8. Knott Hall
Knott Hall ranks the lowest of the buildings on Greenspring that have classrooms. There are plenty of classrooms. However, the temperature is erratic in the building.
Two classrooms could be right next to each other. One is freezing cold, while the other is too hot. There really isn't a happy medium. The windows are hard to open and
possibly dangerous. They close hard and open hard. So avoid the windows if you can. The furniture is okay. Overall, Knot Hall is not the best building to have class in, but
there is a high chance that you will have class in it.
9. The Fashion Design Department in Rockland
The Fashion Design program is an excellent program in an out of the way area. The classrooms are located in the basement area of Rockland Center, but can only be accessed from outside. The entrance is near the mailroom. For this reason alone the Fashion Design classrooms are ranked as the worst area to have a class. Purely because the classrooms are difficult to find, especially if no one tells you where to go. So if you're new to Stevenson or the Fashion Design classes, you should be able to find your classes now.
I hope this helps you figure out what to expect from your classroom in the upcoming semester!
