With midterms quickly approaching, campus is busy with students preparing for exams, practicing presentations and writing essays. Finding the perfect study spot can be difficult, so it’s nice to know about locations that many students don’t know about. While students often flock to Hillman Library or the Cathedral of Learning commons, they are often overcrowded.
Don’t panic if your usual spot is taken — Pitt’s campus has other great studying spots that are less crowded and still provide a productive learning atmosphere. These hidden locations are a great place to visit for your next study session.
The first campus building to highlight is Wesley W. Posvar Hall. This location has two study spots that not many students are aware of, making them an ideal quiet space. The first room is located directly behind room 1501 on the first floor. To access the room, you must walk down the “1500 & 1501” hallway or the “1501 & 1502” hallway. At the end of the hallways lies a secret room filled with several comfortable seating options. The modern-style room features whiteboards for student use and a window wall to let in natural sunlight.
Another spot in the same building is room 5604 — a small student lounge perfect for study breaks. The lounge is tucked away on the fifth floor, meaning students often miss it. While not the biggest space, the room consists of about five small tables, a printer, a microwave and whiteboards, making this a good destination for any studying need.
The Frick Fine Arts Building is home to a small, cozy library featuring long wooden tables, making the spot good for group study sessions. The balcony also features smaller seating options that overlook the lower level. The building offers a special way to spend your study break. Being a fine arts facility, there are several artistic offerings that students can participate in to ease their mind while studying, including coloring books, zine making and a craft corner.
The next destination is the William Pitt Union, which offers two ideal locations for students to get work done. The first is located on the third floor, which holds a student lounge with simple tables and seating options. This spot is specially designed to account for varying study preferences with two separate lounge rooms — a collaborative study lounge and a quiet study lounge. Also located in the Union, on the ninth floor, is another student study lounge. This lounge is more spacious and features comfortable seating with a selection of cozy armchairs and couches. This lounge also has a kitchenette with bar-style seating, making a quick lunch break while studying achievable.
The Cathedral of Learning has a few hidden spots that are great for a day of studying. The English department on floors four through six features central seating outside of the elevator lobby, a nice spot to study before or after a class in the building. There is also a more extensive seating option on floor 23, including couches, coffee tables and other comfortable seating. If you’re a member of the Honors College, you are likely familiar with the study spots on floors 35 and 36. There is another section of the Honors College on floor 34 within the Student Engagement Center, featuring a quiet workspace for students to study.
Another hidden gem is located in Langley Hall near the entrance. This is the Student Success Hub, which provides a great space for students to conduct relaxed group studying. The space provides an array of tables and is an open environment for collaborative work. There are pens and pencils at every table to be borrowed, along with whiteboards to do work on. This location also offers hot tea and coffee, small candy treats on the tables and a cabinet with snack items, making for the perfect brain food while studying. You will be asked to either enter your PeopleSoft number or swipe your student ID when you enter, making this location exclusive to Pitt students.
The final study zone on the list is not confined to a particular building, but is often one of the more empty spots to study. Each academic department has a dedicated space on campus, often providing spacious study areas. Many of the departments are housed in the Cathedral of Learning or in Posvar Hall, but there are other locations throughout campus. Regardless of exact location, the department rooms’ office-like setting and lack of students allow for a productive work environment. Find out where your specific department is housed and take advantage of a space that is created with your major in mind.