As the campus begins to warm up, it is important to stay cool and adapt to the change in weather. Some places around campus tend to be warmer than others, some even serving as an escape from the hot weather. Though most of the buildings on campus lack air conditioning, here is my ranking of the worst to the best buildings to be in when it\u2019s hot outside.<\/p>\n
Least tolerable: Dwinelle Hall<\/p>\n
As the first building after walking through Sather Gate, I think sitting inside Dwinelle, feeling as if you are being cooked alive, is a universal experience. There is absolutely no airflow, which makes it feel especially stuffy. This, combined with the insanely confusing layout of the building, is everyone\u2019s worst nightmare.<\/p>\n
Wheeler Hall<\/p>\n
As Dwinelle\u2019s next-door neighbor, it\u2019s a little cooler, but not by much. Wheeler Hall is known for being pretty toasty in the warmer months. As the home to the largest lecture hall on campus \u2014 alongside big-windowed, cramped classrooms \u2014 Wheeler tends to get quite sweltering.<\/p>\n
Social Sciences Building<\/p>\n
Although the Social Sciences Building isn\u2019t unbearable, some of the classrooms tend to get a bit sweaty. This is especially true if you are stuck in the basement, where there are absolutely no windows or air conditioning.<\/p>\n
Etcheverry Hall<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re on Northside, I would consider Etcheverry Hall a middle-ground option for heat-escaping buildings. I can\u2019t explain it, but even though this building is not air-conditioned, it never feels too warm or stuffy \u2014 maybe it\u2019s because the basement once held a functioning nuclear reactor.<\/p>\n
Voila! You\u2019ve been made aware of every place that will inevitably begin boiling you just as you desperately need to seek shelter, hunker down and study for that midterm anywhere but your horrible Unit 3 triple. So, what\u2019s next? Below, we\u2019ve provided you with a list of all the best places to cool down and lock in. Don\u2019t worry, these all promise and deliver consistent AC and easy water fountain access.<\/p>\n
Most tolerable: Chou Hall and Chiet Hall<\/p>\n
Chou Hall and Chiet Hall are probably the best places to have class when it is hot outside. Located in the courtyard of the Haas School of Business, both Chou and Chiet halls are among the few buildings with air-conditioned classrooms.<\/p>\n
Grimes Engineering Center<\/p>\n
What\u2019s not to love about the Grimes Engineering Center, more commonly and simply known as Grimes? Completed in May 2025, the freshly constructed building features two floors of modern indoor and outdoor seating, outlets, water fountains and a beautiful view of campus to inspire and motivate while you grind. For those with heat-related body odor concerns, I\u2019m here to reassure you that the building still emits that fresh, \u201cnew-building\u201d smell. If you desire more of a cave-like environment, visit the Kresge Engineering & Mathematical Sciences Library just below Grimes. While Kresge unfortunately does not feature any cool stalactites, it does include cubicle-like spaces, study rooms and flexible seating. What you won\u2019t find in Kresge is windows. So, don\u2019t worry about developing a tan while in there.<\/p>\n
Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union<\/p>\n
Take this guide as an official invitation to visit, or revisit, the student union. I\u2019ll admit it, freshman year, I solely viewed the student union as a dining hall-adjacent environment. I rarely studied there and often only took to it \u2014 specifically, its basement \u2014 for lunch at Ladle & Leaf. Sometimes, I indulged in an exciting game of ping-pong post-meal. But now, as a sophomore, I\u2019ve begun to appreciate the student union as a place to escape the heat, study and socialize with friends, especially since it\u2019s right at the entrance of campus on Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue. While many will probably disagree, I oddly enjoy the overly loud pop music played on repeat and occasional piano performance. If the libraries and their endless rules stifle you, consider the student union, or its next-door neighbor, Eshleman Hall, for your next cool study session.<\/p>\n
Stanley Hall<\/p>\n
While I\u2019ve only ever visited Stanley Hall once and failed to note its climate, I did recently scroll past a Yik Yak post discussing how strong Stanley Hall\u2019s air conditioning is, so there has to be some truth attached to it, right? Stanley Hall sits on the Hearst Mining Circle, and because it\u2019s a bit farther from the residential areas, I assume you\u2019re planning an extended stay at your chosen spot. You\u2019ll need some food and drink to fuel your brain, so luckily for you, Kiklo Cafe, on Stanley\u2019s bottom floor, offers pastries, sandwiches and some iced beverages to stay cool and heat up your studying.<\/p>\n
Ishi Court<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a bear that can\u2019t bear the heat and needs an oasis after burning in Dwinelle\u2019s sweltering conditions, consider relaxing under the shady trees planted in Ishi Court. Pro tip: Use the handy website, Dwinelle Navigator, to find it. Once you walk into the courtyard, you\u2019ll feel as if you\u2019ve entered heaven. Sit under a tree, close your eyes and recharge. If you\u2019re feeling especially reflective or grateful, bring a journal with you the next time you visit \u2014 you might just unlock your inner writer.<\/p>\n
With Berkeley\u2019s insanely unpredictable weather fluctuations, there is a place on campus for any climate occasion. Although this is the ultimate guide to surviving the heat in the wake of springtime, if there happens to be a cooler day, flip this list for the best building recommendations. But for now, don\u2019t get too golden, bears!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the campus begins to warm up, it is important to stay cool and adapt to the change…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":257829,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[113963,113965,45835,20,443,72361,113970,30103,53802,113964,113967,18117,113969,113968,113966,109760,109759,143,145,144,30723,113962,72365,89908,72362,50999],"class_list":{"0":"post-257828","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-oakland","8":"tag-chiet-hall","9":"tag-chou-hall","10":"tag-classes","11":"tag-climate","12":"tag-climate-change","13":"tag-dwinelle-hall","14":"tag-dwinelle-navigator","15":"tag-eshleman-hall","16":"tag-etcheverry-hall","17":"tag-grimes-engineering-center","18":"tag-hearst-mining-circle","19":"tag-homework","20":"tag-ishi-court","21":"tag-kiklo-cafe","22":"tag-kresge-engineering-mathematical-sciences-library","23":"tag-ladle-leaf","24":"tag-martin-luther-king-jr-student-union","25":"tag-oakland","26":"tag-oakland-headlines","27":"tag-oakland-news","28":"tag-sather-gate","29":"tag-social-sciences-building","30":"tag-stanley-hall","31":"tag-studying","32":"tag-wheeler-hall","33":"tag-yik-yak"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257828"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257828\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/257829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}