For any builder interested to build their own university dorm and be able
to confortably play their sims in there through their college simdays.

Maxis’ buildings aregreat when you start playing, but with time, you just need to make the game abit more personal. Building lots is really fun, but when you start playing, youcan often witness frustrated Sims unable to do some things or reach someplaces. In other words, you realise the lot you have created is not asfunctional as you thought it would.

So here are mytips for building functional lots. Today: Dorms.

First, to builda dorm, you need to have the University Expansion Pack installed.

Launch the game and get yourself to auniversity campus. (You could start building in your original neighbourhood andthen move it to a campus, but better cut the chase and build it at the rightplace)

Building

Place an emptylot of the size you desire as a residential lot.

Sizetip
If you are a beginner at building or have a computer that tend to lag whenthere are too many Sims on a lot, give yourself a chance and chose a small lot,University is long enough, don’t make it longer with lag.

Name tip
When namingyour dorm, remember to add the number of rooms (as in bedrooms) in its name, toknow how many Sims can live there when playing.

Now is the timeto start building. You can choose to build with a foundation or not, really isyour choice, but if you do, remember to put more then just one set of stairs,or you’ll get waiving Sims, unable to get in. Also, make the area between thestairs and the door big enough in case some Sims decide to chat right there, orhave more then one door to get in and out of your dorm. 

When building,remember to plan a space for the cafeteria, some bathroom with a shower area, astudy area and an entertainment area. Also, you need bedrooms for yoursimstudents.

 A 3X3 room canbe big enough, but I suggest that you make then at least 3X4. No need to makethem much bigger, since students don’t spend that much time in their room. Tomake your rooms official, you need to get them the Myne Door (the onewith the little panel in which your Sim’s picture will appear once he or sheclaim the door).

Door tip

Concerning those doors, you need to remember not to put them ondiagonal walls, or the “claim” system won’t work for them. Also, don’t put anyceiling lights right in front of them, or they will be stuck open and your Simswon’t be able to claim them.

Remember to addall the other doors you may need and add some windows ;) (Good time also to getsome flooring and wall covering)

Now, let’sfurnish that dorm.

Bedrooms

Your students will mostly need a bed in there. No need to be toofancy on the bed, let the student able to buy a better one as they gain moneyfrom getting a semester done. You can also add a desk (with a chair) or adresser in there. A light would also be nice. Don’t put too much in there, youdon’t want to have a laggy lot on your hands.

Cafeteria

This room isquite important to have a functional dorm, since it is one of its mainadvantages. You absolutely need to put in there the ShinyTyme Cooktop stove (the one that came with the Expansion Pack and has no oven), or you won’t haveany cook to serve you meals.

Next, you need a sprinkler close to the oven. Youreally don’t want to lose the furniture in there nor the cook, and what willthe cow mascot do if he/she can pull a prank or two while visiting.

Next, you need island counters for your cook toput some ready meals on. If you don’t put any, your cook will just stand thereand do nothing. Add also some tables and chairs, both for your Sims to eatand do some assignments.

Island Counter Tip

It may betempting to add some stools in front of the counters, put it will only createconfusion among your Sims. They won’t eat at the counter anyway and they willgo on the cook’s side to fetch their meal.

Cafeteria Planning Tip

Make sure there is enough space to circulate in there. Leave one square of space aroundeverything just to be sure.

Bathrooms

It is surely nice to have bathrooms like at home, but there willbe too many Sims in there to go fancy in there, and you want that dorm feelingin there too. Use the “public” toilet (ResiStall Astro Divider 7) sothat more then one Sims can pee at once in the same room. A sink or two and atleast a mirror is also a good idea. Use also the Strut You Stuff CommunalShowers, so that more then one sims can get clean at once.

You can makeyour bathrooms gender specific (using the EZ Evac, Inc.’s Restroom doors), ornot.

There are manyways to configure your bathrooms. You can make two separate ones (one for eachgender) with toilets and showers in both. You can have a semi-separate, withthe toilets area mix and two showers room (one for each gender) using the EZEvac, Inc.’s Restroom doors again. Or you can have a completely mix bathroom.

Bathrooms Tip

If you arebuilding a two floors dorm, make sure to have at least toilets on both floors.If all your rooms are on the second floor, put the showers there and get somesmall washroom close to the cafeteria.

The study area    

Your Sims will eventually need to study. Get them some desks andsome computers. Remember to leave some desk free, for those assignments. Youdon’t want your Sims to invade your cafeteria tables with unfinishedassignment. If you want to add a bookcase in there, make sure to get a couchclose to it, so that the Sims using it won’t hug your desks and computers forgroup research or gaining some skills.

The entertainment area

Studying may get your student’s fun level quite low, andthey will need to gain some skills to succeed through college. Get them a TV,an easel and a chess board. You don’t necessary have to put them in that room,but just make sure you at least have them somewhere.

Last minute check up tip

Remember to getyour Sims enough to build every skills. Cooking, mechanical, charisma, body,creativity, logic, and cleaning. Don’t put too many objects in there, or you’llreally get serious lag while playing. Don’t forget a phone and some lights hereand there.

When you feel your dorm is complete, it is time to change thezoning of your lot, or it will remain a “rental” house. While still in yourlot, open the cheat window (ctrl + shift + C ) and type “changelotzoning dorm”and press enter.

Exit your lot.When you will click on your lot again from the neighbourhood view, you will seethat you now have a new dorm to your campus.

Congratulationon building a functional dorm!

If you need anymore information, do not hesitate to contact me through me guestbook or throughthe PM service. Plus, the dorm featured in this article will be available todownload on TSR soon after this publication.