University of Pittsburgh's Secret Study Spaces

No matter your major and no matter your year, one thing is certain: there are never any open tables at Pitt. Despite recent renovations, the University of Pittsburgh's campus continues to lack enough major study spaces to accommodate its growing undergraduate population. Popular study spaces include Hillman Library, the first floor of the Cathedral of Learning, and Posvar Hall, but when midterms and finals roll around the corner, these areas quickly reach capacity. 

According to the University of Toronto, study spaces should be central, comfortable, quiet, communal, and visually pleasing. In addition to the most popular spaces on campus, many other areas meet these requirements, but they are often overlooked due to a lack of advertisement. Next time you have trouble finding somewhere to set up shop, consider one of the following hidden gems.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Located next to Schenley Plaza and Frick Fine Arts Building, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is a free-to-access library with many cozy nooks scattered throughout. In particular, the second floor hosts many tables. Additionally, if you start to feel low on energy, a quick trip to YINZ Coffee should get you back up to speed. The main drawback to CLP is its hours, which prevent the library from being good for late-night cram sessions. However, if you need somewhere to sit during the day, CLP is an underrated option.

Cathedral of Learning Twenty-Third Floor

Home to Pitt's School of Social Work, the twenty-third floor of the Cathedral of Learning has much less traffic than its lower-level counterparts. The area is newly renovated, and the massive Gothic windows let natural light into the common areas. With each seat filled, over twenty students can study in this area at the same time. The elevator ride may take a few minutes, but the atmosphere and views of this study space absolutely make up for it.

William Pitt Union Ninth Floor

Looking for a quiet study space with comfortable seating and great views? The William Pitt Union has you covered. On the ninth floor of the student union, students can relax by the fire or lounge on the couch while studying. Quiet hours last from 8 am to 4 pm, but outside of that, students can chat or turn on one of the many TVs! Comfortable, relaxed, and quiet, this area provides a unique ambience that is not matched anywhere else on campus.

Thaw Hall Second Floor

Although a headache to find, the display area of Thaw Hall has multiple large tables that rarely find extended use. To find the second floor of Thaw Hall, you have to enter through the Space Research Coordination Center, accessible via the sidewalk near Chevron and the stairs on O'Hara Street. From there, you have two options: take the SRCC elevator to the fifth floor and turn right, or turn left upon entering, climb one set of stairs, turn right, take two more flights of stairs, and turn left. Although the set of tables can be difficult to find, the display area provides a unique study space. If you need to take a quick break from studying, you can take a few minutes to browse the Geology department's collection of rocks and minerals!

Closing Thoughts

All across campus, unique and under-utilized study spaces are just out of sight. Do you have any other secret study spaces you would be willing to share? Do you prefer the larger study spaces such as Hillman Library, or do you prefer more secluded spots such as these?

Sources:

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1152699.pdf

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/clp_location/main-oakland/

https://poharchitects.com/Projects/university-of-pittsburgh-school-of-social-work

https://twitter.com/WPUPitt/status/1126463114327863298/photo/3

https://www.tour.pitt.edu/tour/space-research-coordination-center