285 South Willard Street

Walking Distance to Center of Campus: Approximately .12 miles

Check out one of Chaplain's most unique buildings. The large foyer serves as a lounge for the students who live here and the sweeping staircase makes this a place where community thrives.

Bankus Hall is home to 42 students who live in eight doubles, four triples, two quads and a five person suite. Like all Champlain College residence halls, Bankus has cable television and wireless internet. All residence halls are smoke and substance free, co-ed communities.

A Brief History of Bankus Hall

Year of Construction: 1889

Original Owner: Henry Ballard

Year Acquired by Champlain College: 1992

History: This is another of the Champlain College buildings that was designed by the architect A. B. Fisher. It was built in 1889 for the prominent Burlington lawyer Henry Ballard, who lived there until 1902. Frank Wells, of the Wells family that built 158 So. Willard Street and 61 Summit Street, lived there until 1916, when the house was purchased by Frank Abernethy, a local department store entrepreneur [link to Lyman Hall and Hill Hall]. In the 1930's the house was sold to Trinity College, which named it Mercy Hall. It was sold in 1960 to the UVM fraternity Phi Mu Delta, from whom Champlain College purchased it in 1992. The house has undergone extensive renovation since its purchase. Bankus Hall was named for John Bankus, Vice-president of Finance at Champlain College from 1965 to 1977.