The quiet study room located on the second floor of Huntsman Hall is closed for the duration of the 2026-27 academic year.
The room now serves as a testing space for students with accommodations. According to a sign posted outside the room announcing the closure, alternative options for study spaces can be found in Huntsman Hall G80 and the Academic Research Building.
A Wharton School spokesperson wrote that “the Prayer and Meditation space previously located within the quiet study room” has also been relocated. It will now be housed in room 332 of Huntsman Hall.
Following summer construction in 2024, Huntsman Hall opened nine new group study rooms and unveiled a lounge near its Locust Walk entrance, with renovation costs totaling $550,000. The building contains around 60 GSRs that can be booked by Wharton students, offering spaces for collaborative work and exam review.
Each GSR can seat approximately six people and offers a range of technology such as audio conferencing, connectivity between group work stations, a smart whiteboard, and Internet access.
While any member of the community can use the building, GSRs in Huntsman Hall can only be booked using a Wharton PennKey.
Penn has 10 total library buildings and even more study spots. In addition to school-specific buildings, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, and the Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics are go-to locations.
According to the Weingarten Center, all testing locations for students with accommodations are meant to provide quiet test-taking environments free of distraction. Students may be provided with technological resources based on their needs, including text-to-speech software. Those with approved test accommodations are required to schedule their exams through the Weingarten Center at least eight days prior to receive access.
Other spaces for prayer and mediation on Penn’s campus include the Spiritual and Religious Life Center, the Reflection Room in Hayden Hall, the meditation and relaxation space on the ground floor of Van Pelt, and the relaxation room in Holman Biotech Commons.
The Office of the Chaplain and SPARC provide opportunities for students to engage with religion on campus, including the chance to join Programs for Religious, Interfaith, and Spiritual Matters — the student interfaith leadership group on campus. The office’s website also lists houses of worship in Philadelphia and on-campus worship services offered by Penn student groups.
Staff reporter Emma Desmet covers administration and can be reached at desmet@thedp.com. At Penn, she studies history and political science.
