Marion McCain Arts and Social Sciences Building

This building at Dalhousie has practically become my second home. Seriously. I am here four days a week for class and it’s also my favourite place to study.
«So why not 5 stars,» you might ask?
Well, not that it’s any of your business but it is lacking a few things. For one, if you need food or drink, you must leave the building. I realize that braving crossing University Street to purchase unhealthy food from the SUB may not seem like an ordeal but … it’s cold out a lotta the year! Or raining. It’s also one of the few newer buildings on campus that doesn’t have food. Which does help keeping the riff raff out. (And there are vending machines but ew.)
Study carrels with wifi = brilliant. Student lounges = brilliant. Putting the two right next to one another = not-​so-​brilliant. If you want to study on the first or second floor, you’re susceptible to the shenanigans that go on in the lounges. Better to head up to third floor and use one of the computer labs.
I love the inner courtyard (note to architect: great idea!) which enables the majority of the building to receive significant amounts of natural light. It will also be a good place to rest and catch some rays on warmer days.
The small classroom sizes mean that this building is not swamped with students all day. You don’t usually need to push your way past someone to get through the hallway. The lobby sometimes but I just kick people in the shins and get through much faster. Or take a side entrance. Most classrooms don’t have wifi (which is fine by me, since people should be, y’know, paying attention) but do have outlets along the wall.
There are also three elevators (two in front, one in back) making this a fairly accessible building. Though it does kind of suck that if you’re in wheelchair and you have to have class in one of the two gi-​normous theatres, you’re relegated to either the front row (Keener!) or back row (Loser!).
All in all, a great building.

I used to spend a lot of time in this relatively new academic building. The McCain was completed in 2001 costing about 12 million dollars. It replaced 27 wood-​framed houses that once housed all of the arts and social science offices.
I know some people take issue with the design of the FASS and the overall not-​so-​cozy atmosphere. Also, it’s not a very inspiring or creative space, which is unfortunate. There isn’t a ton of common space, save for the random little nooks with a few chairs. There is however, a nice courtyard and some lovely rooftop patios for sitting and reading during the summer months.
I like the small nature of most of the rooms in the McCain, as well as the seating arrangements which usually form a u-​shape for a more discussion fostering vibe. There are white boards instead of chalk boards, but it never seems like there are markers available for profs to use. As well, the whole tech system seems to escape the grasp of most Arts professors, and whenever the overhead needs to be used, they summon a tech person to help them.
I think maybe I’m giving this building a four for nostalgia, verses the actual practicality of the space. Although, it is always clean and the temperature can be adjusted per room, which is a bonus.