Tank Hall

Widely considered one of the most beautiful buildings at Oberlin, complete with a turret, wrap-around porch and spacious lawn, housing-and-dining co-op Tank Hall is a ten-minute walk from campus and a five-minute walk from downtown. A former orphanage, Tank has the widest variety of rooms in OSCA, including a large number of singles. 

Tank’s location, slightly east of campus, makes for members who are either truly dedicated to their community, ready to take a step back from the rest of campus, or both. The beautiful building and spacious rooms make it one of the most sought-after co-op to join, and membership tends to be primarily upperclassmen. Tank is a great co-op for people who appreciate living in a historic setting and appreciate their personal space and independence. 

Tank houses over 40 students and has approximately 35 dining-only members. Because Tank is a fairly small housing co-op, members develop a strong connection, and parties are not uncommon (but are well-renowned across campus). Tank typically serves meat more often than other co-ops, with alternatives always provided. Tank is known for its exceptional food, and exceedingly creative special meals and pizza nights. There are also occasional exclusive wine and cheese nights, burlesque events, and open mics for Tank members to enjoy.

Between the small dining space, multiple common rooms and front porch, it can be difficult to gather the entire co-op for discussions (but can have the benefit of leading to smoother discussions and more relaxed rules overall). Tank’s approach tends to be more live-and-let-live than other co-ops, which can be beneficial for those looking for a more relaxed college experience or any who might be intimidated by OSCA’s horizontal leadership structure and many institutional policies.