<p>Just wondering as I'm living in there next week</p>
<p>Not too bad. A gigantic, old-fashioned dorm with long corridors of bare-bones singles that are not big but not horribly tiny. Most floors have one large bathroom with lots of showers and stalls, and one small one; they are single-sex, and alternate floors as to which is which. Bring your own toiletries; nothing is provided. You may want to have slippers or flip-flops, too.</p>
<p>The building itself is lovely, and built around an internal courtyard that is a great place to hang out if the weather is nice. The public spaces on the first floor are cavernous, and a little dark, but pretty nice (if rarely fully used). There’s a snack bar, but not a real cafeteria (I think). </p>
<p>It’s on what is effectively the south-eastern edge of the campus, north of the Midway. It’s not that far from anything, but it’s not right next door to anything much, either (except the Lab School, a private K-12 the university owns). The Quad is four or five long blocks away, and that’s about the closest major thing.</p>
<p>If you are coming from Midway Airport, the 59 bus drops you off right across the Midway, so that’s very convenient.</p>
<p>It’s also really close to the Metra stop, which is one of the quickest and most comfortable ways to get downtown. It takes around 10 minutes.</p>
<p>This won’t be an issue for the OP, but for the benefit of other readers who might be visiting some other time of the year, be aware that the dorm rooms in IHouse are not air conditioned. I know someone who stayed there during a heat wave and was miserable. The public rooms, which do have AC, were full of students crashing on the floor.</p>
<p>Oh wow - thanks so much for all the excellent responses! :)</p>
<p>Does anyone know if there is safe parking close to the International House? I know about the university garages across from Rattner and at the hopsital, but am wondering if there’s anything closer to the IHouse. Thanks.</p>
<p>Funny you should mention that. There’s actually a parking lot right at the iHouse, though I’m not sure how you arrange permission to park there. I do know that people have done it in the past and gotten away with it. You can also generally park along 59th and 60th streets.</p>