I’ve studied in nearly all of Penn’s libraries and study spaces. Here are my personal rankings based on factors that affect my ability to “lock in” for finals.
Photo Credit: Ireland Gorecki
By Ireland Gorecki
On December 30, 2019, I decided to self-tour Penn as a high school freshman in the freezing cold, after students had already ventured home for the winter recess. My mom and I stepped into Fisher Fine Arts Library simply to escape one of Philly’s mid-winter cold snaps, and I, like many visitors and members of the Penn community can attest, found myself baffled and in awe of how beautiful and cozy the library appeared. That experience truly made me see myself as a Penn student. To my surprise, now that I am a current student, this is seldom my go-to study spot.
Throughout my day-to-day interactions with my fellow peers and mentors, I find that most Penn students are quite particular about their study habits, preferences, and chosen spots on campus. After all, Penn has 19 physical libraries and nearly every building on campus has multiple designated study areas and Group Study Rooms (GSRs)—of course we must be critical of what is best for us when it comes to focus and how much work we are required to do.
Personally, my study habits and desires shift with each semester and class schedule. If I have two classes with a generous amount of time between them, I end up seeking refuge in a study corner of one of the class buildings while I wait for the next class to start. Or, if I have more free time, like on an empty Saturday afternoon, I like to camp out in one of Penn’s many designated library spaces. But, when choosing a space, I constantly find myself thinking about details like noise level, temperature, desk style, and even seat height. As you can tell, I am fastidious about my study routine.
A recent post on Sidechat listed various libraries, reading rooms, and study nooks throughout campus based on temperature. I have some opinions about the anonymous student’s rankings, so I thought I would share them here. While this is not an exhaustive list of every spot on campus, I’m going a bit deeper than temperature on my most notable workspaces.
- Academic Research Building: My all time favorite study location. From the view, interior design, and central campus location, ARB is the perfect balance of calming, modern vibes. I also appreciate the variety of seating options (high stools or tables and chairs) and the balance between all-out silence and too much noise. I can always find a place to study in ARB.
- Holman Biotech Commons: I love everything about Biotech. This library is definitely more specific to me as a biology major, but I appreciate the table and chair setups most of all. The chairs are some of the most comfortable chairs on campus, and the desks allow me to spread out all my things. My one qualm with Biotech is that the GSRs have very thin walls, so I often hear people’s conversations.
- The Renovated Huntsman Lobby: This new area popped up for the Fall 2024 semester, and it has been a hit. I have frequent club meetings in Huntsman Hall, so I love being able to prepare here beforehand or get some work done between classes in this space.
- Ware College House Courtyard (when warm)/McClelland Dining Hall (when cold): This area on campus was a freshman year staple. I always saw my classmates eating McClelland Bowls and snagging a table outside when it was warm enough, which made for great people-watching. I would come here if I was doing light reading for a class and wanted some healthy procrastination. It is a shame the Class of 2028 is unable to experience this due to current renovations!
- Radian College House Study Lounge: Radian has always been my go-to area if I need to complete a challenging problem set, which is most evenings. It’s modern, cozy, and it even has this funky couch/chair situation that lets me embrace my inner iPad-Kid. I also adore its proximity to some fast-food restaurants on campus, which allows me to study here for long periods of time and quickly grab a bite.
- Levin Building Study Nooks: As a bio major, Levin is my home base. You can always find me studying here if I am preparing for a class in the building or finishing up a long assignment with my lab partners. I truly enjoy seeing other life science majors collaborating and studying together here. However, some areas of Levin remind me of when I would finish taking a test and check my notes to realize one of my answers was wrong…yikes!
- The ARCH Tables (when warm): Ah, the beloved ARCH tables. This area of campus is the epitome of “SABSing,” the art of seeing and being seen. I love to do casual homework here, but sometimes I find myself distracted by the fashion runway that is Locust Walk.
- Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics: This building reminds me of “ARB” in its architecture and interior design, but I dislike its location on campus. I also rarely have classes in this area, so I typically don’t find myself here. Additionally, when I do find myself here, it is always uncomfortably cold.
- Starbucks at 1920 Commons: Penn students coin this popular restaurant as “Stommons,” and it is definitely one of my favorites. I love how many tables and chairs are available for students to study and work at, but I wish the tables had more size options. Most of the tables have 5-6 seats, and sometimes I see one student occupying a whole table, and it somehow feels rude if I go and sit with them, simply due to the size of the table.
- Rodin Rooftop Lounge: While this review applies to all three high rise lounges, I live in Rodin College House currently, so I gravitate towards Rodin. This is a common area for me on a Saturday or Sunday if I am trying to get a lot of work done. It is quiet (most of the time), and the tables are very spacious. Additionally, the view of the Philadelphia skyline is unmatched. However, the big windows can turn this lounge into an insulator. When the sun is shining on you, it can become incredibly hot, but when it is freezing outside, it gets so cold you can barely type on a computer.
- Fisher Fine Arts Library: There is something magical about Fisher. Many students and visitors say it looks like Hogwarts or something out of a movie. While its dark academia aesthetic is breathtaking, there’s something to be said about the poor wifi connection (in my experience) and how hot it can get inside. I find that the best time to study in Fisher is when it is cold outside, however this is the time when many students get sick, and just one cough can echo inside the whole space.
- Moelis Family Grand Reading Room: This area inside Van Pelt-Dietrich Library used to be my favorite spot my freshman year. I loved getting cozy on the big blue chairs while watching the leaves outside on college green. Now, I find that I strongly dislike the chair and table placement inside. The few but long tables limit the space. Perhaps I am just short, but everytime I sit in one of the chairs I feel like a little kid at the grown-ups table. I try to see it as a positive thing for my spine when I am staring at my laptop, but it’s definitely still one of my qualms.
- Gutmann College House Living Rooms: I frequently find myself here on Sunday afternoons cramming for exams. I love the modern feel and the interior design, yet sometimes the big windows turn my attention to the activities taking place on 40th and Walnut. I get a little too distracted people-watching.
- Houston Hall: I find that Houston is a classic among dining hall-goers as they eat lunch and try to get some work done on the main level. Yet, for me, I often find myself interrupted by the many events taking place in Bodek Lounge and Hall of Flags. They yield large crowds of people that can make it incredibly difficult to focus.
- Memorial Tower in Ware College House: My roommates and I always loved snagging study rooms inside Memorial Tower. It was a treat to have open whiteboards and a spot close to my dorm late at night. I just wish that this hidden library was open to more than just residents of the Quad!
- Kelly Writers House: I have to be honest. I have been to Kelly Writers house just two times. Many students who have a class there frequently tell me what an amazing study spot it is, but I just cannot get the motivation to go try it. I think this is due to its proximity to the Starbucks in 1920 Commons; I’d simply rather go there.
- Penn Museum: In my freshmen fall, I took an anthropology class and my professor held his office hours inside the Penn Museum. When I first visited, I knew I found an incredibly pretty and comfortable spot to get good work done. Nowadays, I struggle to get the motivation to walk all the way to 33rd street.
- Chemistry Library: As a candidate for a minor in chemistry, I only see this library as the place for the final moments of panic before a tough exam. I picture myself stressing over General Chemistry and holding back tears while in group tutoring sessions, so it is hard for me to study here.
- 6th Floor Van Pelt-Dietrich: I always tell my friends who visit Penn to go up to the 6th floor of Van Pelt to get the best view of College Green. And it’s true. To me, the 6th floor’s sole purpose is to enjoy the views on a sunny day. I’m ranking it low because of its lack of tables. My coursework demands a lot of problem sets and practice exams, so I always need something to bear down on.
- Joe’s Cafe: My friends and I would always visit Joe’s Cafe between Biology classes to get breakfast in the Fall 2023 semester. Now, I find myself strongly disliking how hot it can get inside and how bad the food is. I’m also one of those people who feels bad for sitting in a restaurant and studying without buying anything.
- Penn Carey Law School: Sometimes my friends and I like to study in the Law School just to have an Elle Woods moment. It is truly beautiful inside and I wish more undergraduates felt comfortable going inside because it is open to all Penn students! My issue here is its distance from where I spend most of my time.
- Fagin Hall: A few of my roommates are studying Nursing so they can frequently be found in Penn’s Nursing Building, Fagin Hall. For me, I’ve only ever had a recitation here so it’s hard to call it a go-to. I rank it low due to my unconditional love for Holman Biotech Commons, which is just steps away from Fagin. Although, if you’re looking for a new spot, Fagin has some of the best tables and chairs and great lighting.
- 3rd Floor Van Pelt-Dietrich: We’re approaching the part of the article where I discuss some spots on campus that I strongly dislike. My only memories inside the 3rd floor of Van Pelt are from working with my CHEM 1012 study group on the weekly online quizzes—and those are not stellar memories. Sometimes the stacks in Van Pelt can be quite dreary and dark, especially the cubicles on the sides of the stacks. I have yet to meet someone who enjoys studying in those.
- Lauder College House Courtyard (when warm): This College House in general has never provided good study spaces. Due to Lauder’s suite-style layout, it is rare that students come out of their suites to study in common spaces. Also, the courtyard is completely infested with mosquitoes and spiders in warmer months, which makes it unbearable to study here.
- Van Pelt Basement: The Van Pelt basement is one of the only places on campus that is open 24 hours a day. Many of Penn’s other libraries close around midnight or 11 pm. Because of this, the Van Pelt Basement wins the award for the all-nighter-go-to-spot. Part of the basement can feel very gloomy to me at night, and overall, there is something to be said about how depressing it is when it’s clear that every student inside is stressed.
- Lippincott Library: Part of me wants to like Lippincott, but at the same time, I really dislike the lack of natural light. It’s also consistently warmer than I would like it to be.
- Williams Hall Study Lounge: The little reading room inside Williams Hall has to be one of the coldest places on campus. It is also constantly crowded. Moreover, the lights that hover over the tables are too low and cause my computer to have a strong glare.
- Hill College House: Many of the freshmen who call Hill College House home seem to either love it or hate it—no inbetween. Whenever I walk inside Hill, it somehow reminds me of an indoor pool. The air is dense, there are weird smells, and it feels really sticky.
- David Rittenhouse Laboratory: I truly believe that students who voluntarily study in DRL are scary people. There is very limited study space, and the whole atmosphere of this building is reminiscent of challenging math or physics classes. The only good thing is checking out my outfit in the hallway mirrors.
- Meyerson Hall Lobby: I feel like this placement needs no explanation. Nearly every Penn student has had many midterms and/or a final inside of Meyerson B1 auditorium. When I think of the lobby outside the B1 auditorium, I picture my classmates and I quickly cramming equations into our brains before we can write them on paper.
Ireland Gorecki is a sophomore in the College studying Biology and American Public Policy from Atlanta, GA. Ireland is also a photographer for The Pennsylvania Post. Her email is igorecki@sas.upenn.edu.
