Sterling College has seven residence halls, each with its own personality.
On upper campus, student housing is found in traditional dorm buildings, farmhouses, and a renovated New England inn, intermingled with classrooms and workspaces.
On the lower campus, housing is in traditional dorm-style buildings adjacent to the Forest Gardens.
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The Lowers
Birch and Alder, affectionately known as the Lowers, are nestled between the Cedar Swamp and the Lower Gardens - Sterling’s hub of vegetable production. It is a 7-minute walk to the main campus on a winding path through wetlands and the edible forest garden. Birch and Alder both have full kitchens where residents bake bread or cookies, try their hand at fermentation, or make popcorn for weekly movie nights and game nights. Walk into either dorm’s common rooms, and any day you might find students jamming, knitting or carving. Birch is a substance-free dorm.
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Houston House
Houston House has five double rooms, all with private bathrooms. Named for former faculty member Ned Houston, it is home to Sterling’s teaching kitchen and a food library. The common area features a newly renovated kitchenette, laundry, and living area. The formal gardens behind Houston are flanked by shrubbery archways and host Sterling’s graduation festivities.
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South House
Up to 12 students live in South House which was formerly an inn. It has six rooms, all with private bathrooms. South House has a shared kitchenette, and a large common room that is a repository for board games and books. The Orleans County forester has a separate but adjacent office in South House.
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North House
North House was once home to the College’s president. Now its five rooms lodge up to 10 students with shared bathrooms. Behind North House, students often gather around the firepit and play games on the lawn. The House has sprawling porches facing Craftsbury Common to the west and Sterling’s Dawnland Heritage Garden and the Edible Forest Garden to the east.
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Kestrel
Kestrel is at the heart of Sterling’s campus, opposite the college dining hall. Its 19 rooms accommodate up to 25 students who share newly renovated bathrooms, two common rooms and two kitchens. If you like to tinker with your bike, Kestrel is the dorm for you with the bike repair shop in its basement.
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Merlin
Adjacent to the college’s Brown Library, Merlin has eight double rooms and four singles. Merlin has two common rooms, one upstairs and one downstairs, and with a full kitchen and two kitchenettes it is the perfect place to make treats or whip up a midnight snack. Merlin’s upstairs and downstairs porches overlook a shared lawn with Kestrel.
