North American fraternity and sorority housing explained

North American fraternity and sorority housing refers largely to the houses or housing areas in which fraternity and sorority members live and work together. In addition to serving as housing, fraternity and sorority housing may also serve to host social gatherings, meetings, and functions that benefit the community.

History

The first fraternity house seems to have been located at Alpha Epsilon of Chi Psi at the University of Michigan around 1846.^[1] As fraternity membership was punishable by expulsion at many colleges at this time, the house was located deep in the woods.

Fraternity chapter housing initially existed in two forms: lodges that served as meeting rooms and houses that had boarding rooms.^[2] The lodges came first and were largely replaced by houses with living accommodations. Lodges were often no more than rented rooms above stores or taverns. The idea of substantial fraternity housing caught on quickly, but was accomplished with much greater ease in the North as southern college students had far less available money for construction.The first fraternity house in the South was likely one rented by members of Beta Theta Pi at Hampden–Sydney College from at least 1856. Alpha Tau Omega was then the first fraternity to own a house in the South when, in 1880, its chapter at The University of the South acquired one.^[3]

Early chapters of women's fraternities often rented houses where they could live together, usually with a chaperone. This was in a day before colleges and universities had housing available. The first chapter house built by a women's fraternity was the one Alpha Phi erected at Syracuse University in 1886.

Many colleges eventually came to support fraternity and sorority housing as they allowed increased enrollment without the construction of costly dormitories. The nature of this benefit varied between campuses as some houses were paid for entirely by alumni, some were rented, and some were built on land leased from the college. It was further recognized that, while fraternities having chapter houses did not raise academic performance, it did tend to keep it from falling as the chapters could not afford (financially) to have members leaving school and no longer paying for their rooms.

The Inter-Sorority Congress of 1913 saw the establishment of uniform rules and regulations regarding life in chapter houses.

The number of houses owned by fraternities and sororities grew from 772 in 1915 to 928 in 1920.

Design

Fraternity and sorority houses range in size from three to twenty bedrooms or more. They can usually be identified by large Greek letters or flags on the front of the house. The larger chapter houses generally have a large meeting room, a large dining room, a commercial kitchen, and a study room. There is usually a lounge of some sort, access to which is often restricted to fully initiated members. Fraternities and sororities will also often maintain a chapter room, to which only initiates may ever be admitted and even whose existence may be kept secret. The walls of the house may be decorated with pictures of past chapter events, awards, and trophies, decorative (or historic) paddles, or composite photos of members from past years.

In some fraternities or sororities, only the representatives live in the houses while in others the entire fraternity or sorority may live in the house. Other, larger fraternities or sororities may have more than one house to accommodate all of its members.

At many colleges, Greek houses are placed on the same street which is traditionally referred to as "Greek Row."^{[4] [5]}

Policies

Fraternity and sorority houses are typically owned either by a corporation of alumni, the sponsoring national organization, or the host college. For this reason, such houses may be subject to the rules of the host college, the national organization, or both.

Due to the increase in widely publicized alcohol-related deaths on college campuses, many national organizations and host colleges have implemented dry housing policies in which the consumption and possession of alcohol are prohibited on house property.^[6] Some colleges make this policy conditional on overall grade performance.

In addition to banning alcohol, many university-owned fraternity and sorority houses have smoking bans in place inside.

Because of residential requirements, some college campuses and national chapter administrations also prohibit members of the opposite sex on certain floors of fraternity and sorority houses.

National Register chapter houses

The following chapter houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Demolished structures are indicated in italics.

Name	Fraternity or Sorority	Architect	Affiliation	Location	Year Completed	References
	Alpha Delta Phi	Ralph W. Varney	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1925
				Detroit, Michigan	1912
Alpha Phi Fraternity House-Beta Alpha Chapter	Alpha Phi	Charles Harris (1937 remodel)		Champaign, Illinois	1909
	Alpha Rho Chi	Royer, Danley, and Smith	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1928
	Alpha Tau Omega	Lehman "Monk" Ferris	University of Nevada	Reno, Nevada	1929
Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House (Maltese Manor)	Alpha Tau Omega		Purdue University	West Lafayette, Indiana	1920
	Beta Theta Pi	Frederick J. Klein	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1912
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House	Beta Theta Pi		University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Chapel Hill, North Carolina	1929
Harold C. Bradley House	Sigma Phi Society	Louis H. Sullivan and George Grant Elmslie	,University of Wisconsin–Madison	Madison, Wisconsin,	1909
Chi Omega Chapter House	Chi Omega	Charles L. Ellis	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	1927
Chi Psi Fraternity House	Chi Psi	Richard Sundeleaf	University of Oregon	Eugene, Oregon	1935
Colonials Club House	Colonial Club, Theta Delta Chi,	Proudfoot & Bird Woodburn & O'Neil	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	1910
Deke House	Delta Kappa Epsilon	William Henry Miller	Cornell University	Ithaca, New York	1893
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House	Delta Kappa Epsilon	E. G. Oldefest	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1906
Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity House	Delta Kappa Epsilon	Robert Frost Daggett	DePauw University	Greencastle, Indiana	1926
Delta Psi, Alpha Chapter building	St. Anthony Hall	Henry Hornbostel and George Carnegie Palmer	Columbia University	Manhattan, New York City, New York	1898
Delta Tau Delta Founders House	Delta Tau Delta		Bethany College	Bethany, West Virginia	1858
Delta Upsilon Chapter House	Delta Upsilon	Alexander M. Linn	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	1930
	Delta Upsilon	Albert Kahn		Ann Arbor, Michigan	1903
Delta Upsilon Fraternity House	Delta Upsilon	Leonard Steube	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1927
Dr. William Gifford House	Tau Kappa Epsilon	William W. Sabin	Cleveland State University	Cleveland, Ohio
	Alpha Phi Alpha	M. H. Pettigo	Bluefield State University	Bluefield, West Virginia	1907
Iowa Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon	Sigma Phi Epsilon	Amos B. Emery	Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	1931
Kappa Delta Rho Fraternity House	Kappa Delta Rho		University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1928
Kappa Sigma Fraternity House	Kappa Sigma	Archie H. Hubbard	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1911
Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Gamma Theta Chapter	Kappa Sigma		University of Idaho	Moscow, Idaho	1916
Llenroc	Delta Phi	Nichols & Brown	Cornell University	Ithaca, New York	1865
Old Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House		George Lill	University of Oregon	Eugene, Oregon	1910
Old Beta Theta Pi Fraternity House	Beta Theta Pi, Delta Zeta		University of Oregon	Eugene, Oregon	1906
Omega Chapter of the Chi Phi Fraternity	Chi Phi		Georgia Tech	Atlanta, Georgia	1929
Parish Apartments		Myron Edwards Pugh	University of Iowa	Iowa City, Iowa	1929
	Phi Delta Theta	Howard Van Doren Shaw	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1922
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House	Phi Delta Theta	Martin I. Aitken	University of Nebraska-Lincoln	Lincoln, Nebraska	1937
	Phi Gamma Delta	Carl Stravs and Madsen Brothers		Minneapolis, Minnesota	1912
Phi Gamma Delta House	Phi Gamma Delta	Crowell & Lancaster	University of Maine	Orono, Maine	1925
Pi Chapter House of Psi Upsilon Fraternity	Psi Upsilon	Wellington W. Taber	Syracuse University	Syracuse, New York	1898
Porcellian Club	Porcellian Club	William York Peters	Harvard University	Cambridge, Massachusetts
	St. Anthony Hall	J. Cleaveland Cady.	Trinity College	Hartford, Connecticut	1878
St. Anthony Hall House	St. Anthony Hall	Cope and Stewardson	University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	1907
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Chapter House	Sigma Alpha Epsilon	Russell S. Potter	Miami University	Oxford, Ohio	1938
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House	Sigma Alpha Epsilon	George Dean and Albert Dean	University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign	Champaign, Illinois	1907
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House	Sigma Alpha Epsilon	Fred Wallace; Marshall and Brown	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	1908
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity House	Sigma Alpha Epsilon	Charles I. Carpenter	University of Idaho	Moscow, Idaho	1932
Sigma Sigma–Delta Chi Fraternity House	Sigma Sigma, Delta Chi, Triangle Fraternity		Iowa State University	Ames, Iowa	1924	^[7]
Theta Xi Fraternity Chapter House	Theta Xi	Joseph M. Lawlor	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, New York	1931
Thorsen House	Sigma Phi Society	Greene & Greene	University of California, Berkeley	Berkeley, California	1909
Welch Hall	Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Alpha Sigma Phi	David Frederick Wallace (1929 renovation)	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	1820, 1907
Xi Chapter, Psi Upsilon Fraternity		Colin C. Wilson	Wesleyan University	Middletown, Connecticut	1891
Zeta Psi Fraternity House at Lafayette College	Zeta Psi	James Barnes Baker and William Marsh Micler	Lafayette College	Easton, Pennsylvania	1910

Notable chapter houses by size

Rank	Size	Fraternity or Sorority	University	Location	Year Completed	References
1	55500square feet				2016	^[8]
2	46356square feet				2013	^[9]
3	43000square feet	Delta Delta Delta	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	2019	^[10]
4	42000square feet	Pi Beta Phi	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	2016	^[11]
5	40352square feet				2005	^[12]
6 (tie)	40000square feet	Kappa Delta	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	2019
6 (tie)	40000square feet	Alpha Chi Omega	University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	2014	^[13]
6 (tie)	40000square feet	Delta Upsilon	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	2015	^[14]
6 (tie)	40000square feet				2015	^[15]
10	39500square feet				2005	^[16]
11	39444square feet				2016	^[17]
12	39264square feet				2005	^[18] ^[19]
13	38853square feet				2012	^[20]
14	38000square feet				2017	^[21]
15	36884square feet				2016	^[22]
16	36818square feet				2015	^[23]
17 (tie)	36,000 sq ft (3,344.5 m^2)	Alpha Chi Omega	University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	2023
17 (tie)	36,000 sq ft (3,344.5 m^2)	Beta Theta Pi	University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	2015
19	35000square feet	Phi Kappa Psi	University of Kansas	Lawrence, Kansas	2005	^[24]
20	34800square feet	Delta Gamma	University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	2012	^[25]
21	34000square feet	Alpha Delta Pi	Oklahoma State University	Stillwater, Oklahoma	2021	^[26]
22	33783square feet	Alpha Tau Omega	University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	2011	^[27]
23	33557square feet	Chi Omega	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	2013	^[28]
24	32445square feet	Beta Theta Pi	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	2012	^[29]
25	32400square feet	Sigma Kappa	Indiana University	Bloomington, Indiana	2005	^[30]
26 (tie)	31000square feet	Pi Kappa Phi	University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	2014	^[31]
26(tie)	31000square feet	Phi Kappa Psi	Indiana University	Bloomington, Indiana	2014	^[32]
28	30534square feet	Kappa Alpha Theta	Oklahoma State University	Stillwater, Oklahoma		^[33]
29 (tie)	30000square feet	Pi Kappa Alpha	Missouri Science & Technology	Rolla, Missouri	2007	^[34]
29 (tie)	30000square feet	Alpha Omicron Pi	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	2009	^[35] ^[36]
31	29100square feet	Kappa Sigma	University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	2014	^[37]
32 (tie)	29000square feet	Phi Gamma Delta	University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	2008	^[38]
32 (tie)	29000square feet	Alpha Tau Omega	Kansas State University	Manhattan, Kansas	2013	^[39]
34	28500square feet	Kappa Sigma	Missouri Science & Technology	Rolla, Missouri	2011	^[40]
35	28070square feet	Sigma Sigma Sigma	University of Missouri	Columbia, Missouri	2012	^[41]
36	28051square feet	Sigma Nu	University of Oklahoma	Norman, Oklahoma	2017	^[42]
37	28000square feet				2015	^[43]
38 (tie)	27000square feet				2011	^[44] ^[45]
39 (tie)	27000square feet	Sigma Chi	University of New Mexico	Albuquerque, New Mexico	1951	^[46]
40	26600square feet	Alpha Chi Omega	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	2018	^[47]
41	26500square feet	Sigma Chi	University of Alabama	Tuscaloosa, Alabama	2012	^[48]
42	26000square feet	Phi Sigma Kappa	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	Troy, New York	2011	^[49]
43	25814square feet	Phi Gamma Delta	University of Arizona	Tucson, Arizona	2004	^[50]
44	25425square feet	Sigma Alpha Epsilon	University of Cincinnati	Cincinnati, Ohio	1925	^[51]
45	25000square feet	Kappa Sigma	University of Arkansas	Fayetteville, Arkansas	1931	^[52]

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Chi Psi - Chi Psi Fraternity. www.chipsi.org. 2018-01-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20180318145736/http://www.chipsi.org:80/?page=AboutChiPsi. March 18, 2018.
2. . Baird's Manual is also available online here: The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
3. Web site: ATO Facts & Firsts. 21 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121001161712/http://www.ato.org/alphatauomega/atohistory/factsandfirsts.aspx. October 1, 2012. ato.org.
4. Web site: Greek Row.
5. Web site: Living on Greek Row provides convenience, community, and affordability in living on campus. Tritima Achigbu, The Shorthorn. staff. The Shorthorn. 15 April 2020 .
6. News: Fraternity houses turn off the taps and sober up . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Bill . Schackner . 2000-08-18.
7. Web site: Page . William C. . June 1, 2007 . National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Sigma Sigam-Delta Chi Fraternaity House. . June 2, 2023 . National Park Service.
8. Web site: Newsroom . Osu Stillwater . New Sigma Chi house going up, taking shape .
9. Web site: Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, University of Arkansas . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130807013136/http://askbrinkmann.com/success-stories/multifamily-residential/kappa-kappa-gamma-sorority . 2013-08-07 . 2013-11-13 . Brinkmann Constructors.
10. Web site: University of Arkansas Tri Delta House Expansion and Renovation Celebrated . 2021-03-29 . University of Arkansas News.
11. Web site: Arkansas Alpha | Pi Beta Phi History . history.pibetaphi.org.
12. News: 2019-09-22 . Kappa Delta Details CDI Contractors .
13. News: 2014-09-22 . UA Cribs: Alpha Chi Omega . en-us . The Odyssey Online . 2018-11-20.
14. Web site: Delta Upsilon Fraternity House – LayneCo Construction Services . lcsconstruct.com.
15. Web site: Brown . Melissa . 8 August 2013 . New University of Alabama house largest in sorority's national history . al.com.
16. Web site: Listing . /www.maddogweb.com.
17. Web site: Flanagan . Ben . 13 October 2016 . Take a look inside the new $13 million Phi Mu sorority house at the University of Alabama . www.al.com.
18. Web site: Listing . /www.maddogweb.com.
19. Web site: House - Sigma Pi at FSU . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180822115036/https://fsusigmapi.com/house/ . 2018-08-22 . 2018-08-22 . www.fsusigmapi.com.
20. Web site: buildfh . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180818202900/http://www.buildfh.com/ . 2018-08-18 . 2019-01-11 . www.buildfh.com.
21. Web site: Oklahoma State University's The Grecian Spring 2017 (fraternity and sorority affairs) .
22. Web site: Archived copy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171005152310/http://trustees.iu.edu/docs/agn-2015-06-V3.pdf . 2017-10-05 . 2017-02-01.
23. Web site: Alpha Gamma Rho - Pi Chapter - progress . dead . https://archive.today/20131107042548/http://www.osuagrs.com/progress . 7 November 2013.
24. Web site: Phi Kappa Psi - Focus . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120722111859/http://www2.pursuantgroup.com/phikappapsi/sep06b.htm . 2012-07-22 . 2011-12-08 . www2.pursuantgroup.com.
25. Web site: Archived copy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130423001722/http://bamadg.com/ . 2013-04-23 . 2013-05-23.
26. Web site: Morris . Callie . August 2021 . Alpha Delta Pi Sorority Celebrates New Chapter House At OSU . ktul.com.
27. Web site: Alpha Tau Omega, University of Alabama - WAR Construction, Inc. . www.warconstruction.com.
28. Web site: Chi Omega Sorority House . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109235037/http://www.mwbuilderstx.com/node/813 . 2013-11-09 . 2013-11-09 . MW Builders.
29. Web site: TreanorHL . www.treanorarchitects.com.
30. Web site: Beacon - Story County, IA / City of Ames . beaconbeta.schneidercorp.com.
31. Web site: Pi Kappa Phi, University of Alabama . 2019-05-05.
32. Web site: Phi Kappa Psi Foundation: Indiana Beta Chapter Housing Campaign . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221162421/http://pkpfoundation.org/GivingBack/ChapterCampaigns/IndianaBeta.aspx . 2014-02-21 . 2014-02-03.
33. Web site: Beta Zeta - Oklahoma State Univ. - Kappa Alpha Theta Housing . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110818030012/http://housing.kappaalphatheta.org/facilityresources/showchapter/1151 . 2011-08-18 . 2011-06-18.
34. Web site: PiKa: Our House . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110512045617/http://www.akpikes.com/our_house/ . 2011-05-12 . 2011-06-18.
35. Web site: University of Arkansas AOII House . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927014758/http://www.alphaomicronpi.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=6601&TEMPLATE=%2FCM%2FContentDisplay.cfm . 2011-09-27 . 2011-06-18 . alphaomicronpi.org.
36. Web site: Carney . Jordain . February 27, 2009 . Alpha Omicron Pi Hosts Open House This Weekend . https://web.archive.org/web/20110522061947/http://www.uatrav.com/2009/alphaomicronpihostsopenhousethisweekend/ . May 22, 2011 . The Arkansas Traveler.
37. Web site: On the boards — MILES ASSOCIATES . dead . https://archive.today/20131209215700/http://milesassociates.com/on-the-boards/rzy4rsmjmluh8zkahgrjis8c8cj69b . 9 December 2013.
38. Web site: Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity House, University of Oklahoma - Timberlake Construction . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120226155147/http://www.timberlakeconstruction.com/projects/educational/ou-phi-gamma . 2012-02-26 . 2012-02-13.
39. Web site: Projects - Category: Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity House - Compton Construction Corporation . comptonconstruction.com.
40. Web site: Kappa Sigma at Missouri Science & Technology - House Plans . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110822162051/http://mstkappasigma.theginsystem.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=38 . 2011-08-22 . 2011-06-18.
41. Web site: Tri Sigma Sorority House . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109234924/http://www.mwbuilderstx.com/node/812 . 2013-11-09 . 2013-11-09 . MW Builders.
42. Web site: Bitterman . Abby . October 19, 2016 . OU Sigma Nu chapter building a new house, physical presence on campus . OU Daily.
43. Web site: April 27, 2015 . Two Fraternity Houses Celebrated on Campus This Weekend . University of Arkansas News.
44. Web site: Archived copy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060101211452/http://www.omegafundraising.com/apps/clientwebsite/templates/campaign_display.php4 . 1 January 2006 . 11 January 2022 . www.omegafundraising.com.
45. Web site: Dodson . Don . June 14, 2010 . Fraternities rehabbing, rebuilding houses with newest touches on UI campus . The News-Gazette.
46. Web site: The House Sigma Chi at UNM . 2018-02-28 . unmsigmachi.com . en-US.
47. News: Delta Rho-Arkansas Housing Fund . en . Alpha Chi Omega . 2018-11-20.
48. Web site: New Sigma Chi Fraternity House . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140221193430/http://www.hhbeng.com/projects.asp?action=form&formID=2122&recordID=1453933&catID=8629 . 2014-02-21 . 2013-11-20 . hhbeng.com.
49. Web site: 18 February 2011 . Fraternity right at home in church . Times Union.
50. Web site: RealtyTrac . Real Estate . 1801 E 1st St, Tucson, AZ 85719 - 158977215 RealtyTrac . 2018-09-24 . www.realtytrac.com . en.
51. Web site: ucsae.org . www.ucsae.org.
52. Web site: 6 May 2015 . University of Arkansas Kappa Sigma Fraternity House . Kinco Constructors.