Everyone knows you can study at Parks Library and the Student Innovation Center. Maybe you’ve studied there dozens of times, and you are looking for a change. In 2026, consider trying new study spots to lock in this spring semester.
I went around campus and looked in the nooks and crannies of our beloved buildings, and this is what I found:
Natural Escape in Lagomarcino
Lagomarcino Hall has a beautiful courtyard to study in when there is no snow on the ground. If you go under the big arch, go either right or left to enter the building, then keep walking. In the very back, middle of the first floor, is a window-filled study space with outlets and natural light. If you take a right, the Courtyard Cafe is on the way — a perfect place to get a treat to help stay focused.
Morrill’s Quiet Oasis
Morrill Hall, a gorgeous red brick building near the center of campus, houses a secret study area on the top floor. It’s near the Women in Science and Engineering office. Many signs will point the way there!
Ashlin McCollough, a senior computer science major, said that it was her first time using this quiet space.
“It’s nice, there aren’t many people,” McCollough said.
The atmosphere is cozy, with plenty of seating and windows overlooking campus. If you need a study break, you can stop in the Christian Petersen Art Museum downstairs.
Hoover Hangout
Hoover Hall, conveniently connected to Howe Hall on the west side of campus, is full of study spots and oversized windows. On the top floor, I found various one-person desks overlooking campus. If you have a group with you, there are a couple of lively tables on the second floor at the top of the main staircase that overlook the Student Innovation Center – but these are a hot commodity, so get there early!
Perfectly Pearson
On the south side of Pearson Hall’s second floor, you can find lots of tables for studying. Be warned, during the afternoon, this area gets very crowded, similar to the third floor of Parks Library.
The best study times here are during off-hours, when not many people have classes; this is usually after three or four in the afternoon.
Bessey’s Beautiful Bunker
On the east side of Bessey Hall, there are tables on all four floors. The majority of them are on the first floor, filled with natural light and various seating options for group work or independent study.
Kayla Weisgerber, a sophomore nutritional science major, uses this study spot often after biology classes.
“It has multiple different seating places, and it’s close to my classes and where I live,” Weisgerber said.
Even though these options are great, there is a reason the Student Innovation Center and Parks Library are the most popular.
“I like the library,” McCollough said. “I go to the cafe and study next to it.”
Weisgerber spends her time studying in the more popular spots as well.
“I like the library and the Innovation Center,” Weisgerber said.
