The New School Free Press is profiling each dorm the school has to offer. We started with Stuyvesant Park and followed with Kerrey Hall. Now we’re covering Loeb. 

From complaints of noisy construction to its quiet removal as a housing option for the fall 2026 semester, The New School’s Loeb Hall residence has been the subject of much discussion this year. This guide aims to provide a portrait of student life at Loeb Hall residence.

Situated near the northeast corner of 12th Street and Third Avenue, Loeb is one of three residences primarily designated for first-year students. Loeb also has the smallest population, and according to the university, Loeb has a bed capacity of 268, 56% less than Kerrey Hall’s 603 beds. To some, Loeb offers a more intimate, slower-paced impression of life at The New School. 

18-year-old Storey Owles is a first-year student at Parsons School of Design and lived in one of Loeb’s 70 suites and moved in for the Fall 2025 semester. Owles, who was at first reluctant, ultimately committed to The New School to study Strategic Design and Management. “My sister actually told me to apply [to Parsons],” Owles said. She and her sister ended up deciding to attend together, opting to live in the same suite. They picked Kerrey Hall as their first choice on the housing preference form. 

“Loeb was our second [choice], and then we landed here, but I’m happy with it,” Owles said. In hindsight, she said that if she were given the choice again, she’d pick Loeb over Kerrey. “I think I like the location better. Not being on top of the school, you’re kind of in your own space. . . you can get away from all the craziness.” 

Based on preference and availability, students who wish to live on-campus at The New School are matched with roommates in single, double, or triple dorm rooms within a suite. Loeb’s 70 suites are each designed to house four residents, primarily in two adjoined double rooms. 

Similar to the university’s other residence halls, each suite also comes with a common area equipped with a kitchenette, table and chairs, and a full bathroom. 

Barring minor differences in storage and appliances, each suite at Loeb has the same kitchenette. Residents can take advantage of a microwave, a single-door fridge and freezer, a sink, sufficient cabinetry and counter space, a stove, and an oven. Loeb is the only residence hall at TNS equipped with a full oven range, not just a stovetop. 

“The fact we have an oven is a game changer for me,” said Owles. 

Loeb is comparatively older than its counterparts. Its appliances were installed before the university switched to standalone electric stovetops in its residence halls. 

On its basement level, Loeb boasts a large and airy lounge area fitted with a TV, games, tables, chairs, and sofas. Residents frequent this space to unwind or get work done.

For those pursuing music, Loeb has two practice rooms connected to the lounge. Each is furnished with a piano and accompanied seating, and could comfortably fit at least two people at a time for those thinking of collaborating.

Neighboring the lounge, Loeb residents can find a large art workspace on the basement level with rows of art desks and chairs, perfect for large or messy art projects.

Loeb residents have access to a five-person exercise room. Residents can use the gym’s equipment — including treadmills, bikes, free weights, medicine balls, machines, kettlebells, and more — 24/7 depending on capacity.

A basement laundry room with stacked washers and dryers, tile flooring, and fluorescent lighting.

Just inside the entrance hall and before the turnstiles, you may find yourself sitting in Loeb’s lobby. To the right is the 24-hour Campus Safety desk; to the left, chairs for waiting on friends or food. For residents who use services like Grubhub, security directs food deliveries to a small table just inside the building in the lobby sitting area. 

Loeb’s mailroom sits just beyond the turnstiles in front of the elevators. Residents can retrieve packages Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Additionally, next to the mailroom, each resident is assigned a mailbox and lock combination for letters that is accessible 24/7.

As a quieter alternative to the building’s lounge, Loeb Hall has a smaller study room on the ground floor. This room is a great place for those in search of silent study.

Loeb flaunts a large front patio. Though currently engulfed by scaffolding due to ongoing building facade work, the front patio proves itself a popular meeting spot for residents and their friends.

Loeb’s East Village location grants residents access to a diverse set of neighborhoods on the lower end of Manhattan. The residence hall sits only a few minutes southeast of Union Square and just two blocks from the iconic crosstown artery, 14th Street.  

Just a 10-minute walk from the University Center, first-year students living at Loeb can easily take advantage of their required meal plan. But, unlike Kerrey Hall (which sits atop the UC), Loeb is a degree separate from the main campus. For this reason, Loeb makes a great fit for New School students looking for a balance of convenience and independence. 

Within reach of Loeb, there are several hotspots residents may find themselves frequenting. 

Opened in 1927, the historic Strand Bookstore on Broadway is three minutes away from Loeb on foot. According to the Strand’s website, their store at 828 Broadway “carries more than 2.5 million used, new, and rare books.” The Strand remains a popular choice for its tote-bag-toting enthusiasts at The New School. 

Westside Market is a Manhattan-exclusive supermarket chain. Their 24-hour location at 84 Third Avenue is just across the street from Loeb Hall. This location accepts New School Dining Dollars Plus, making it a practical and popular spot to grab a snack or stock up on groceries.

Union Square is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. The park is home to year-round events, including the Greenmarket for fresh goods and the renowned Holiday Market, which appears annually in November and December. There are also several notable stores in the surrounding area, including America’s flagship Barnes & Noble location, Sephora, Best Buy, and Duane Reade.

No matter where you’re going — crosstown, uptown, downtown, or inter-borough — Loeb’s location is extraordinarily convenient for getting you wherever you need to go. 

The largest subway station for Loeb residents is 14th Street – Union Square. This station serves as a gateway to the city for Loeb residents. As a major transfer point for New York City’s Subway, Union Square is served by the 4, 5, 6, N, Q, R, W, and L trains. 

Above ground, the frequent M14A and M14D Select Bus Service can take you southeast to Alphabet City or west to Chelsea, with a convenient stop across from the UC. 

Loeb is currently undergoing renovations to its facade “as mandated by NYC’s Façade Safety and Inspection Program (Local Law 11),” according to Merrie Snead, associate director of communications for TNS.

Upgrades have also been made to the kitchens in some suites. According to Snead, because “there are very few periods of time when the residence halls are completely vacant,” this work is “typically done in stages” during periods of low occupancy, like in the summer.

For incoming first-years and upperclassmen who wish to live on-campus, Loeb is no longer being offered on preference forms. University Housing’s room rate document for academic year 2026-27 does not list Loeb in the “Residence Halls” section. When asked for comment, Snead replied that “Residence hall availability is reviewed annually by the university and may vary based on institutional needs and operational considerations.” 

Loeb’s future appears undetermined. In the meantime, many New Schoolers, like Owles, have called it home.