| I live at Brown College and it is beautiful, and centrally located on Grounds. The Lawn is a short walk away, as is the Corner. It's easy to get to almost anywhere because of it's location.
The room layout is great in that people will have their own rooms, but will still have a roommate to perhaps bond with. Roommates will have to share some territory, but it's really fine. Oh, and yes, Brown College is historical and was built for visiting scholars in 1846?? Something like that.
It attracts a lot of OOS and international students, and as such, travels to the beat of a different drum, IMO. I'm not saying this is good or bad, just different.
However, also in my opinion, it is NOT what one expects to find at UVA. It is NOT preppy or Virginian or Greek. People often use the word "indie". One will definitely NOT find the First Year experience at Brown because there are only ~43 first year students in Brown. It's hard to meet other first year students; I'd watch and compare how other first years in the Old and New Dorms seemed to be in what looked like a UVA heaven to me, and I did not feel that way necessarily so at Brown. I was very lonely in the fall, but still got to the FB games and had a good time with my roommate and eventually joined in with folks.
On the flip side, it was real hot for about the first two months here in CVL last year and the A/C was WONDERFUL at Brown!!! Some friends of mine in the new dorms said it would take a real hike to go to the Corner and would pass on Corner outings, but for me the Corner is very do-able.
Now, at the end of my first year, I'm glad I lived at Brown; but I think for my personality, I would have preferred the Old Dorms had I been given the opportunity--but I wasn't given that opportunity. I filled out the Brown application, apparently got accepted by Brown, I listed it 3rd on my dorm choice list with Old and new Dorms before it. Low and behold, I got Brown!
I don't regret it though. I love my roommate. We'll room in an apt. with some Old Dorm folks. | 
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