Photo taken by Cee Spiller
Check out these unique places for all your finals season studying.
Looking for a change of scenery to study for finals? Ablaze has you covered! I stay around campus until 11 p.m. daily to study or work on passion projects, so I’m quite familiar with the rewards of new locations.
Since this could easily be mistaken, 5/5 means a spot has nearly complete availability and 0/5 noise means completely quiet.
Underrated Study Spots
HSS “Study Lounges”
Day availability: 4/5
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 0-2/5
Outlets: Yes!
On the third floor study lounge, you’ll find the closest thing to a publicly available bed on campus. By this I mean the wide cushioned “bench” has an indulgent amount of legroom. The second floor study lounge has a similar pattern, but the benches are shorter and more suited for people who don’t want to feel like they are on a bed.
If you want an esoteric break, you can get food from the P.O.D. market or look at the flyers on the plastered with posters wall (I do this every time).
Quiet study room of Hodges Library
Day availability: 4/5, but this may change as finals approach
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 0/5
Outlets: Yes!
This room cannot be promoted enough. It has the quietness of the regular quiet floors with the comfortable furniture of the non-quiet floor. This room is on the level below Starbucks and the P.O.D. market.
Group Study Spots
Library reserve rooms
Day availability: 3/5, but this may change as finals approach
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 0-1/5
Outlets: Yes!
If you’re reading this, you’re at least several months into the semester, so this location needs no introduction.
To make sure you nab a spot, your best chance is to reserve a room a day or two in advance.
Remember, the library is open 24/7 outside of special days!
Empty HSS classrooms
Day availability: Not worth the risk, but HSS 202 and 201 are often available computer labs (available times are on a paper on the door)
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 1-2/5
Outlets: Yes!
The empty afternoon classrooms at the HSS building have one advantage for studying: swivel chairs. Swivel chairs can be arranged into a table if you aren’t sitting in them and can allow free movement with a desk when you are equipping the chairs.
If you want to use this space, make sure to check if people are in the empty HSS rooms, as some clubs meet in them, even in the evening.
Niche Spots - Just for Ablaze readers!
Student Union Lookout
Day availability: 4/5
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 0/5
Outlets: Yes!
The Student Union Lookout, located on the second floor above the Starbucks, has a feeling of aerial isolation. This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but overlooks such as this one, which point to both Phillip Fulmer Way and Haslam, create a nearly unrivaled feeling of exclusivity. You can reach this spot by taking the Student Union entrance closest to the bridge then heading up 1 floor by stairs or elevator. After this, walk past the university honors and interview rooms until you reach this unmissable location.
Min H Kao balcony
Day availability: 5/5
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 1-3/5, but I find the sounds of the city pleasant
Outlets: No.
If you’ve never visited Min H Kao Engineering Building, it’s the academic building closest to downtown and the sunsphere. The balcony is on the top floor and looks out over the Knoxville skyline. It’s isolated within the corner of campus and provides both a feeling of seclusion and connection to our city. This spot also works for group study if you have a group of fresh air enthusiasts.
Strong Hall nooks and crannies
Day availability: 4/5
Evening/Night availability: 5/5
Noise Level: 1/5
Outlets: Yes!
I’m not sure why, but this building has the most creative design on campus (besides the art and architecture building). This comes with comfortable scenery and comfortable chairs and couches. This spot is best for individual study, but a group of two could certainly find a comfy spot. Also, in case you’re looking for a lunch break, Strong Hall is likely your best choice given the abundance of walkable restaurants on the nearby Cumberland strip.
Conclusion
You should explore for yourself during a study break to find newly beloved locales!
