Now that we have started the last full week of classes, you may be kicking your studying into high gear! As we finish up assignments, we need to stay focused, and the best way to do that is to have a great study space. When the weather is nice, here are some of the best study spaces on campus!
Heads up! Make sure your laptop is charged if you need to use it because there may not be any outlets nearby!
- North Campus in Front of Holmes-Hunter Academic Building
-
North Campus is probably the best outdoor space on campus and super popular amongst students, staff, and visitors which means it is usually crowded when the weather is nice. (If you are looking for a lesser-known area, Herty Field is the place to be.) The best space is right in front of the white Holmes-Hunter Academic Building. This green space is directly to the left of the Arch, so it is the first part of campus that you reach if you come from Downtown Athens. There are tons of trees for shade if it gets too hot, as well as benches all around North Campus if you don’t want to sit on the ground. Sitting on the grass facing downtown Athens is so peaceful with the multicolored buildings that give the campus the small-town feel. If you need a study break, you are steps away from tons of restaurants downtown, so it is a great location!
How to get there: The best way to reach North Campus is to take a bus to the Arch, walk around the Arch (not under!), and you are there! Super simple, and if you are unfamiliar with North Campus, take time to walk around and head south to see how close you are to Tate, the MLC, and Sanford Stadium!
- Herty Field
-
If you are unfamiliar, Herty Field is a beautiful open space in North Campus with benches and a large fountain, aka Herty Fountain. You probably jumped in this fountain during orientation! When the weather is nice, the perfect place to study is on the grass with a blanket, some snacks, your homework, and the field is wide enough for social distancing so maybe bring a study buddy!
How to get there: There are many ways to get to Herty Field, but the easiest ways are either: 1) take a bus to the Arch, walk around the arch (not under!), pass the chapel and make the next right, continue walking until you reach a small parking lot. Cross the parking lot and Herty Field will be right in front of you just past the shrubs or 2) walk up the white staircases next to Park Hall to reach North Campus, pass Stanford Hall and keep walking past the Law Library on your right and Caldwell Hall on your left, there will be benches in the middle of the sidewalk, keep walking until you hear the fountain and Herty Field will be on your left.
- Founders’ Memorial Garden
-
The Founders Memorial Garden really is a hidden gem of North Campus! You may have walked by it before and not realized it because it is tucked away. Hidden gems = quiet study spaces, so if that’s what you are looking for and still want to be outside, the Founders’ Memorial Garden is the best place! The landscaping is so nice, and there are fountains, beautiful flowers, and, of course, benches in the garden for a peaceful, relaxing study session.
How to get there: To avoid getting lost, take a bus to the Gilbert Bus stop, Once you step off the bus, take a right and walk down the sidewalk towards MLC and Bolton. After about a minute, you will see stairs to your left with a sign that says Founders’ Memorial Garden. When you walk up the stairs, you will come face to face with the Founder’s House (it is white). You can either go to the left or the right to visit different parts of the garden. If you head to the left, you will see a patch of green grass with some trails to a small fountain/pond and benches. The right side is larger and has more open space rather than secluded areas.
- The Field Between the MLC and Military Building
-
You have probably noticed the large silver granite-looking blocks that sit slightly behind the MLC toward the Military Building. If you have ever walked from the Memorial Hall bus stop up the hill towards North Campus, you would see this area on your left. This area is not necessarily quiet since it’s near the street where buses pass frequently, but if you don’t need a silent environment, this area offers a nice change in scenery. The trees provide nice shade when it’s too hot, but on days with great weather, this is a great place to study in between classes with a central location for easy access.
How to get there: Take a bus to the Memorial Hall/Tate Center/MLC bus stop. Cross the street towards Tate but turn right and walk towards North Campus. The seating will be on your left before you make it to the intersection at Sanford Dr. and Baldwin St.
- Outdoor Space of Business Learning Center
-
Lastly, the new Business Learning Center (BLC) has a good bit of outdoor seating and a Coca-Cola Plaza in-between Orkin Hall, Amos Hall, and Ivester Hall, as well as tables and chairs in the space between Moore-Rooker Hall, Benson Hall, Amos Hall, and Correll Hall. If you have a lot of your classes in BLC, these areas are easy to access for studying throughout the day. If you need a study break, stop by Au Bon Pain in Amos Hall for some food or coffee without having to leave the community. If it gets too hot or starts to rain, step right into Amos Hall or any of the other 5 buildings in the BLC for indoor study spaces.
How to get there: The best two ways to get to the BLC will be to go to Bolton or Tate and cross the intersection at Baxter St. and S. Lumpkin St. or take a bus to Correll Hall directly. If you walk from Bolton Dining, you will see the Coca-Cola Plaza immediately. All buildings in BLC are connected except for Correll Hall, but Amos Hall will help you reach the tables and chairs easily. Enter Amos Hall on the 1st floor (not the ground floor) and walk straight until you reach another set of double doors. Once you walk through the doors, you will see the silver tables and chairs. There are also tables and chairs on the side of Ivester Hall which can be reached if you walk from Correll Bus Stop.
As we approach finals, study spaces in MLC and Tate might get super crowded, so knowing a few places you can go instead can make all the difference! Good luck studying for finals!