Best Study Spaces on Campus
These are some of the best spaces I've found to study on campus!
574 Boston Avenue (pictured above)
Although a bit far from the main area of campus, working here is worth the trek; the building—one of Tufts’ more recent projects—looks modern both inside and out, and has study spaces of every kind that span the building’s four floors. On the first floor lies a large area filled with four-person tables for more collaborative group work, as well as reservable huddle rooms for noise-insulated studying. A vending machine and some sofas also flank the large study area. There are small nooks down the hallway for both solo studying as well as tables where a group of up to 6 can comfortably study together. The large study area is somewhat mirrored on the fourth floor, albeit with potentially larger tables more suited for larger group studying or TA office hours. A section of smaller round tables along with some couches are also present for smaller group studying. The fourth floor also features a microwave, so it’s easy to bring a meal and work for an extended period of time. Finally, the second and third floors are more classroom and research-lab-oriented, although there are a few tables and whiteboards on these floors along with rows of tall chairs for individual studying. Due to the slightly longer commute to get here compared to other spaces such as Tisch or the Campus Center, the chances of finding a table here are generally higher and noise levels are generally lower, potentially facilitating better studying.
Joyce Cummings Center
The newest building on campus, the Joyce Cummings Center—or JCC—has many study spaces on campus. It is located fairly centrally and is right near the Green Line, which is definitely a plus for traveling off-campus. Home to the Computer Science, Mathematics, and Economics departments, office hours for specific classes—especially Computer Science ones—take place frequently in common areas on the 2nd–6th floors, reducing the amount of available study space. However, the chance of finding a space increases as one progresses up the floors, with a mix of smaller and larger tables for group work and larger swivel chairs for more individualized studying. These tables are generally nestled in a couple different common spaces on each floor, with some floors also having kitchens with fridges and microwaves for easy food storage and consumption. The 1st floor—while the most busy due to the number of students coming in and out around class times—also is home to two fairly large study areas, one space is more geared towards group work and the space toward the back is more for individual/small group work. Even though the building as a whole is more crowded than other spots, the views looking out onto campus, the T tracks, and the sports fields combined with the in-building Starbucks (if you like coffee) more than make up for it if you’re able to find a seat.
Granoff Music Center
Although there aren’t too many spots to hunker down and get your work done in Granoff, it is an awesome place to work if you can grab one of them. On the main floor, there are a couple tables that are great for both solo or group work, as well as some couches if you don’t need a table to put anything down on. The building—and the front especially—is illuminated very nicely due to the large windows at the front of the building, and the space is quite large and relatively quiet in contrast to other locations on campus. The basement also has a couple chairs for individual work, and is home to the Lilly Music Library, which is a great place to study if you’re looking for a quiet location which also has computers and printers if needed. Granoff also connects to Aidekman Arts Center, which features a small study area on the main floor next to the Balch Arena. The location on campus is also quite convenient, as Granoff is nestled between the SEC and Campus Center, and is only a ~5 min walk to Powder House Square, Dewick, or Hodgdon and a ~15 min walk to Davis.