Places to Study at Pitt

Hillman Library – You can’t beat a place that is a stone’s throw away; it has a coffee cart, a computer lab, five floors of different studying environments; it’s regularly open until 2 a.m. and 24 hours during finals week. Besides Hillman, the following is a list of other libraries that provide you with a place to hit the books: Law School Library, Music Library, Langley Library, Chemistry Library, Bevier Engineering Library, Frick Fine Arts Library, and Carnegie Library of .

Alumni Hall – The best kept secret. It boasts a beautifully redone ballroom, which you can gaze over as you sit at the comfortable second floor tables. The third floor has several long desks with personal lights for your studying pleasure. Other nooks in Alumni Hall offer quiet areas for studying. Open until midnight, it’s a great place to go when Hillman gets packed during finals.

The – A 50-foot ceiling in a lowly lit setting might put some to sleep, but the hardback chairs along with the University’s mission engraved in stone inspires some to study all through the night. Help Desks are often offered during the day. Open 24 hours, limited seating. Also, located on the 35th floor of the Cathedral is the Honors College. The Honors College is a very popular spot for those who enjoy the casual study environment. Couches and coffee offer students a relaxed environment to chill while they study.

Posvar Hall – Want to get away from everyone? Want a place where it is silent and nothing will distract you? The first floor of Posvar Hall is your place. This is a good place to practice public speaking assignments. Kick up your feet, sit back, and study all night long in this well lit setting. Be aware that classes do meet here and in other rooms of Posvar during the day. Hillman is packed, Alumni Hall is closed and the Cathedral is too dark to study in, time to head home, right? Not so fast, my friend, the second floor of Posvar is open 24 hours, well lit, and close to home.

Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/Crazy Mocha, – All of these coffee shops are a nice place to head when you need a break from the traditional study setting. Each of these shops offers a different and unique setting for studying. All have plenty of seating and lots of caffeine.

William Pitt Union/David Lawrence/Victoria Hall/ – All university buildings, these feature lounges or study areas that provide a great alternative to the library.

Forbes Tower – A hidden secret. The large orange building across from Dave and Andy’s ice cream shop provides a quiet yet unique study area in the fourth floor lounge.

Petersen Events Center – Grab a smoothie and sit down to study as you gaze out the large glass window that overlooks campus.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Located just across , the public library has ample seating, lighting and outlets. Unlike many campus buildings, the Carnegie Library has limited hours, open between 10am and 8pm Monday through Thursday, but closes early on Friday and Saturday at 5:30pm. Sundays it's open from 12pm to 5pm.

Your Good Old Room – This should be the last resort. X-Box and Netflix are huge distractions. If you want to study in your room, rearrange it with your desk facing away from your television or just to change the atmosphere. Also check out the study lounge(s) in your residence hall. They are usually provided with tables and chairs as well as couches to catch up on your studies.