El Paso, Texas (KFOX14) — Some days, the hardest part of going back to school is not the class. It is finding a quiet place to finish the work after a full day, a long commute and everything waiting for you at home.
That practical problem is what stood out when we visited the Southwest University Lounge in El Paso. We sat down with Southwest University President Benjamin Arriola to understand why the school is creating spaces outside its main campus for students, faculty, staff and members of the community.
“This space is really meant for all of us adults who have a very hectic and busy life,” Arriola said.
He explained that the lounges are intended to give people a closer, calmer place to meet classmates, work on assignments or simply take a breath before heading home. The idea feels especially useful for adult students balancing jobs, family responsibilities and El Paso traffic. Rather than adding another long drive to the day, they can stop somewhere designed for focused work.
The official SU Lounge website describes quiet study corners, team tables, high-speed Wi-Fi, charging access and presentation screens. The locations also offer private meeting pods and computer rooms, giving visitors options for solo work, virtual classes and group projects.
This is not a traditional campus lounge tucked inside one building. It is designed to work more like a neighborhood study space, especially for students who may not spend every day on the main campus.
“The lounge really is also a hub for our online students who want that connection to the school and want to be a part of our culture,” Arriola said.
Southwest University currently promotes online programs in areas including business management, health administration, nursing, medical coding and radiology management. The lounges give those online students another way to connect with the university while still keeping the flexibility of a virtual program.
Students remain the priority, but Arriola said the spaces were also created with the broader El Paso community in mind. Someone who needs reliable internet or a quiet place to study can use the lounge, even if they are not currently attending Southwest University. The official lounge page also describes the spaces as open to everyone.
“We want to support our community,” Arriola said.
And yes, there are refreshments.
“We have free coffee, tea and water here for our students,” Arriola said, adding that special activities during the week may include fresh fruit, sushi or cheeses. Honestly, a quiet table, reliable Wi-Fi and coffee already solve several problems before the laptop even opens.
During our conversation, Arriola discussed three El Paso-area lounge sites: Montana, Americas and Eastlake. As of July 30, 2026, the official SU Lounge page lists the Montana location at 12703 Montana Avenue and the Americas location at 701 North Americas Avenue as open. The Eastlake location at 13649 Eastlake Boulevard is listed as coming soon.
What we liked most was how specific the concept is. It recognizes that for many students, success is not only about getting into a program. Sometimes it depends on having one dependable place where you can focus, charge your computer, meet with a classmate and finish what you started.
Maybe that is the real value of a “home away from home.” It is not another place asking something from you. It is a place that gives you enough room to think.
Visitors should check the official SU Lounge website for the latest location information before making the trip.
Southwest University Lounges (Courtesy: KFOX14)
SU Lounge Locations:Montana: 12703 Montana Ave., Suites B1 and B2, El Paso, TX 79938Americas: 701 N. Americas Ave., Suite 101, El Paso, TX 79907Eastlake: 13649 Eastlake Blvd., Unit D-4, El Paso, TX 79928. The official website currently lists this location as coming soon.About Southwest University:
Southwest University Official Website
SU Lounge Locations and Information