Prior to the Spring Semester of 2025, students may have noticed the vacant residential building sitting adjacent to the dining hall. That residential building, known as Herhily Hall, was recently revitalized to house students for the first time since Spring 2021. This landmark decision to reopen Herlihy Hall was greeted with a surplus of positivity throughout the campus, as the announcement post was one of FSU’s most popular of all time (Instagram). Yet, has Herlihy Hall been everything it’s expected to be for the students who took the opportunity to live in Herlihy Hall this semester? And what if you may be the next student living in Herlihy come the Fall?

Herlihy Hall has some features that outmatch other living options on campus. There are two types of dormitories within Herlihy Hall: the Herlihy Premium Double, a dorm featuring two full-size beds, a retro-style full-size fridge/freezer, a wall-mounted Smart TV, and a microwave! As well as that, students opting for the Premium Double have access to individual desks, dressers, and closets.

Herlihy Hall also offers Studio Singles, coming with the same technological amenities as the double, yet this time a single room featuring a full-size bed, as well as soft seating, a desk and a bistro table for two. Whether living in a single or double, you have access to the common areas that feature brand new couches, tables and chairs, as well as high quality laundry machines and a full sized kitchen. 

While there are features of Herlihy that you simply cannot find elsewhere on campus, the pricing has to be considered. In Herlihy Hall, the cost of a premium double is about $5,075 per semester, and a single will cost you $5,500 a semester. Comparatively, premium singles in Russell Towers/Aubuchon Hall cost about $5,200, and premium singles in Mara Village cost anywhere from $5,300-$5,550. 

While on the surface Herlihy Hall sounds like one of the best living accommodations on campus, the only ones who can truly tell are the students who took the chance over Winter Break and applied for residency in Herlihy Hall for the Spring semester of 2025.  Junior Herlihy Hall resident Samuel Monterio claims that Herlihy has exceeded all expectations and “that Herlihy is the best place to live on campus”, after previously residing in both the townhouses and Russell Towers. 

“Other students in Herlihy love it as much as I do because it provides so much [for the students] and an overall great living environment,” said Monterio.

Freshman Herlihy Hall resident, and former commuter, Cesear Romero shared a similar sentiment, stating Herlihy to be “as close to perfect as an on-campus dorm can be”. He cited benefits to Herlihy life that are not listed so publicly, such as having direct access to the dining hall, being at the centerpoint of campus and the quietness that comes with Herlihy. Romero believes that Herlihy Hall is the “best choice for on-campus housing at Fitchburg State”.

When I approached Herlihy Hall RA Chrisitan Dedier about how he believes students have felt living in Herlihy up to this point, he had nothing but great things to say. 

Dedier believes “Herlihy residents have been very satisfied and enjoying the amenities that the Residence Hall has to offer”, citing its impressive gaming lounge, unique gender neutral bathrooms, and various complementary amenities. He, along with Monterio and Romero, heavily recommended Herlihy to students who are unsure of what residence they would like for their next semester, and had extremely positive feedback up to this point in the semester.

Is the once vacant, ghost-like dormitory really as impressive as it’s portrayed to be after its renewal, especially in light of the price per semester? It appears so, based not only on Fitchburg State Students living in Herlihy, but also its RAs. 

“Each Residence Hall has its own individual strengths, and one resident might have different preferences than another,” explained Dedier, yet “Herlihy Hall is such an amazing residence hall for any and all students!” 

So take this information with caution and remember that everyone is subject to their own opinion. Yet opinions from those directly involved support that Herlihy Hall is one of the best places to live on campus, by far.