University City offers a plethora of study locales that feature comfortable working environments. Whether you require absolute silence or prefer to work in the ambient noise, here is a list of some of campus study spots that will meet your every need.
Van Pelt Library: Penn's biggest -- and newly renovated -- library is located at 3420 Walnut Street. With wireless Internet access, audio and video centers and over 150 public computers, Van Pelt is a great place to do research and write papers. Additionally, the library offers reserved group study and seminar rooms. While the library closes at midnight Monday through Thursday (with varying weekend hours), the Goldstein Undergraduate Study Center stays open until 2 a.m. and includes a cafe equipped with many caffeinated beverages for late night studying. Starting Sept. 26, the undergraduate study center, located on the library's bottom floor, will be open 24 hours a day.
Fisher Fine Arts Library: Boasting aesthetically pleasing architecture by the famous Philadelphia architect Frank Furness, the Fisher Fine Arts Library is a quiet and comfortable place to study. Located on 220 S. 34th Street, the library appeared in the movie Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks.
The George B. Harvey Lounge: Located in the technology-savvy Huntsman Hall, this study center includes tables, cubicles and comfortable chairs. Security guards will require students to show their PennCards in order to enter the Wharton building; however, students from all schools are welcome. If you get hungry while you study, there is an Au Bon Pain cafe that sells everything from soup to jelly beans. Only Wharton students are allowed to reserve the private study rooms that line Huntsman Hall.
Starbucks: While this cafe certainly needs no introduction, Starbucks is a great study locale for those who find it easier to concentrate amid chatting and noisy coffee machines. The lounge area upstairs is a cozy place to read a book. Located at 34th and Walnut streets, Starbucks picks up campus wireless coverage.
Silfen Student Study Center: Have an hour or so to kill between classes? Go to the Silfen Student Study Center. Located in Williams Hall, the study center is equipped with carrels and upholstered benches. Williams Hall also includes vending machines and a cafe that accepts PennCash. Although the study center stays open until 3 a.m., a swipe of your PennCard is needed to unlock the entrance after 10 p.m.
Houston Hall: Enjoy crepes while studying at the nation's first student union. Houston Hall provides students with a spacious study area as well as a handful of public computers. With its many tables and couches, Houston Hall is a great place to study with a group.
Biomedical Library: If you get easily distracted and have trouble concentrating, then the Biomedical Library -- located behind the Quadrangle -- is the perfect study location for you. The Biomedical Library is rumored to be one of the quietest libraries on campus.
