Where to Study on Campus (When Snell Is Full)

By: SSG Emily Niedermeyer

Snell Library is undeniably the prime study spot on Northeastern’s Boston Campus. I mean, it is a library with no books! The building is quite literally dedicated to providing quality spaces to get work done. In the past year, however, Snell has seen several renovations that will continue for the next couple of years, decreasing capacity and quality of the existing floors.

Beginning in July, construction on the first floor and lower levels of the building began, resulting in a temporary entrance and walkway. Renovations to the fourth floor of Snell were completed in mid-November and the level is now open with reservable study rooms, soundproof pods and “additional study space.” Now the third floor is closed for renovations, which are expected to be completed in summer 2024. The floor is expected to contain study rooms, an enhanced graduate study room, a digital scholarship research hub, extended research space and again, “additional study space.” The second floor is expected to begin renovations in spring 2024.

Snell will have reduced capacity for now, meaning students will have to find other places on and off campus to host their finals studying. Here are some spots I think are up to (or almost up to) par with Snell Library.

1. Curry Student Center

Curry Student Center is the obvious choice to turn to after Snell. It is huge, with two levels of long tables and sofa seats. The first floor is more of a cafeteria space during the day but when the restaurants have closed, the tables make for great study spaces and it is open until midnight most days. The second floor also features long tables but has a bigger variety of two-person seaters, a sofa area and benches. Beware, however, because these areas can get quite crowded and are usually quite loud as the Center is a student hub.

A particularly nice spot is the Curry Starbucks. It is a bit quieter compared to the main dining area and you are just feet away from hot drinks and baked goods to enjoy as you grind out your assignments.

2. West Village G Lobby

The West Village G lobby is a secret hideaway for me and my friends during finals week. It is perfect for people who like smaller and quieter places to study and has both larger tables for groups and individual tables for those who prefer to work alone. It has huge windows for those who like to people watch and still feel like they are getting vitamin D despite being indoors for hours on end. It is also typically easy to snatch a table earlier in the day.

3. ISEC + EXP

I prefer ISEC when I am studying alone. There are small tables for groups, but they are not spacious at all, and the colorful chairs are my preferred option. They usually come paired with a table to put my extra things in and I loved to curl up and work between classes or even for a couple of hours. ISEC was built to be a productive workspace, and I feel like it follows through on its goal.

EXP is very new to Northeastern, with construction having been finished just this semester. While I have not been able to study there yet, it is definitely a place to check out.

4. 300 Massachusetts Ave.

300 Massachusetts Ave., located in historic Horticulture Hall, has both study and meeting spaces and is one of the hidden gems on campus. It is only a couple of minutes’ walk from the edge of campus but it is so worth it for the spacious rooms and quiet atmosphere. The one thing that may deter students is its hours. The building is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and is closed on Sunday. It may not be best for the weekend worker, but it is a great option for weekdays.

5. Coffee Shops

Coffee shops are the obvious choice when you do not want to be on campus. They provide quaint atmospheres with hot drinks and baked goods. The downside is that often, coffee shops in Boston do not have much seating, which means you must arrive early. They may also get quite loud, which may be your cup of tea but sometimes can be distracting.

6. Empty Classrooms

Empty classrooms are the golden ticket to studying with a group of people on campus. They are usually only available in the afternoons or during finals week when there are no longer any classes scheduled. If one of your friends is an early riser, have them go at the beginning of the day to set up camp in an empty classroom in one of the many buildings on campus. The rest of the group can then use the room as they please throughout the day, fostering a space for collaboration (if needed), and conversation and socialization if needed throughout long hours of studying.

**While Snell undergoes construction, Northeastern also has a site where you can search and book open spaces on campus.