Best secret study spots on campus

Huntsman Hall: GSR Ground Floor

Tired of late nights spent in GSRs? Don’t want to sleep on a couch in the forum again?

It’s high time for a new study space. Hey, after all, studying went by the wayside this Friday night.

Out of the five GSRs I passed, four had TV on and the fifth was turned into a dining room. And the only people I found in the forum were networking instead of homeworking. So while everyone crams for finance exams and management reports in Huntsman (but only Sunday through Wednesday), and people code late in engineering, check out these fantastic study spots Penn has.

A good old standby is sometimes what you need: Weigle Commons—Van Pelt

You want it, Weigle has it – group study rooms, diner-style booths, little bistro tables, printers, little nooks and even a complete media center with lots of cool gadgets. Chigozie Amonu, a freshman in the college, likes this space because, “You’re still able to talk in the library and there really isn’t a noise restriction, but also people aren’t really obnoxiously loud.” She also likes that she can study with a bigger group.

Chigozie Amonu

Entrance to David B. Weigle Information Commons

Wiegle Commons: Diner Booth

Hidden gem in plain sight: 6th floor Van Pelt

Constanza Anorga is a freshman currently studying in Wharton. She likes studying in the Ellen and Herbert Moelis Reading Terrace because, “The view mostly it’s relaxing, quiet…not many people come here, most of them are older and who are doing their own thing…but mostly because of the view actually.”

Nicole Flibbert is a junior studying English in the college. She likes the 6th floor, “Because its very peaceful—usually very quiet and it’s really pretty; you can see the whole campus from the windows.” The view is certainly amazing but definitely not the only reason to pick this spot—the couches are leather and chairs twirly and even in better shape than Huntsman. Nicole goes on to say, “[The] sixth floor is awesome, gives off a library vibe which is good for scholarly pursuits.”

Constanza Angora

Nicole Flibbert

The view from the windows of the 6th floor looking over Locust Walk

Ellen and Herbert Moelis Reading Terrace – 6th Floor Van Pelt

If you’ve been ignoring vitamin D a little too long: Perlman Quad Steps

The Perlman Quad steps is a convenient place for anyone to study—two blocks from every undergraduate school, it’s a prime place for studying outside and grabbing a little sun. Close to Houston, food is also near when hunger calls. Rebecca Li, a freshman in the College, loves to sit on the steps when the weather is nice. She says, “It’s really peaceful and beautiful everywhere, and i don’t know—it’s just comforting to sit here. It’s fun to people watch too.” When asked if there was any particularly funny story she remembered, she came up with a tale of a rogue policeman riding the steps. “This girl was photographing him and it sounded really loud and clanky. I don’t know what that would be for.” So if you want convenience, food, vitamin D and maybe even a good laugh this is the space for you.

Rebecca Li

Calm, easy, refreshing: Fisher Fine Arts Library

Fisher Fine Arts in and of itself houses an art museum, and is also a work of art itself. It has huge tables with lots of light, as well as tiny carrels on the second floor mezzanine. Directly across from Van Pelt, its an easy escape from the madness that resides in the main library. Christina Hum, a junior in engineering paints a beautiful picture of why she likes studying there, “The architecture, the feel, very old-style library. It…makes studying fluid mechanics a little more romantic. It also has a lot of space to spread out your stuff and it has outlets which is very important.” The fact that it has outlets alone trumps it over Huntsman.

Christina Hum

Fisher Fine Arts Library: Study Carrel

Fisher Fine Arts Library: Main Floor

When you’re ready to try a grownup space: Penn Bookstore Cafe

The Penn Bookstore Cafe is more than just a Starbucks. It offers some of the standbys, but also has breakfast and lunch food of all sorts—and even stuff that would pass for dinner. It’s a cafe like atmosphere that has the toasty warm aspect of a bookstore. Essentially, it’s like stepping into the adult world for a change.

Katherine Senter, a junior in the college, likes studying here, “Because the music is always oldies, and it’s not too quiet like a library. You [also] see a lot of different people from different walks of life…I guess the distractions keep me not distracted.”

Michele San, a junior in nursing, also likes studying here. She says, “I think the ambience is just nice—it’s not too suffocatingly quiet…if I really need a break I can get up and get a book to read for a little bit.” She also adds that it’s convenient to Sansom Place, which is a bit further off campus than other housing. When asked if she knew of any funny stories she laughed, “I can’t even imagine what kind of crazy things could happen here…it’s people living their life, hanging out, having meetings, and it’s not just students. It’s people in the real world.”

Katherine Senter

Michele San

Bookstore Cafe: Cafe area

Bookstore Cafe: Cafe Tables

Bookstore Cafe: Quiet Study Room

When you’re looking to bring out your inner nerd: Singh Center for Nanotechnology

One of the newest buildings on Penn’s campus; its my favorite place. Thought it’s far from the dorms, it’s close to engineering and open 24/7. With booths or tables, it gives a quiet space with cheery orange decor. And no, the orange isn’t a throwback to the ’90’s, it’s based on the orange glass wall into the nanofabrication lab to keep the UV light out to protect certain processes. Taylor Concannon, a junior in engineering, says she loves studying there because the light is natural and there’s lots of it. She also likes the quiet atmosphere. Personally, I love it because you can watch people at work in the nano fabrication lab while you study. The chairs are by far the most comfortable in engineering, and as its a newer spot on campus, you can usually find a seat—no matter what time of day you come.

Singh Center for Nanotechnology : Graduated Step Study Spaces

Singh Center for Nanotechnology: Graduated Step Study Spaces

Singh Center for Nanotechnology: Ground Floor Study Tables

Singh Center for Nanotechnology: Graduated Steps Study Spaces