The James G. Kaskey Memorial Park is a fitting tribute to the first day of Spring, an unassuming nature oasis tucked away within Penn’s urban campus.

“This green space which we call today the James G. Kaskey Memorial Park, or BioPond, was created during the last decade of the nineteenth century, opening as a research garden in 1897. Although the idea for a garden on University of Pennsylvania campus was first presented by Dr. J.T. Rothrock, then chair of the Department of Botany, it was Professor of Botany, Dr. John M. MacFarlane who finally convinced the Biological Department of the special advantages to be gained by reclaiming the waste ground which surrounded the department. Although the area was a scant five acres, generally considered far too small a space for a Botanical Garden, Professor MacFarlane did succeed in transforming waste hills and hollows of sand and gravel into a garden which fulfilled not only the botanical research needs of members of the department, but was also a graceful addition to the University landscape” (Penn Arts & Sciences).

Over the years, it has been renovated (dredged, relined and realigned) for maintenance and sustainability; however, it has lost some of its original acreage due to campus development around it. Nonetheless, it still stands today as a campus treasure.

If you like the outdoors, there are benches and a few picnic tables where you can take in the sun and read/study. I prefer to go for a nice walk when I need a break from my work, and especially pack my lunch there where I can eat al fresco. You will delight in some of the live species that inhabit the pond, such as fish and turtles, if you observe carefully. Now is the best time to enjoy it, before it gets too hot to be outside in the Summer. But crisp Fall-Winter walks are also unexpectedly enjoyable.

As you set out to walk and meander through the paths, cross over bridges or perch on a bench upon which to find a point of rest, consider an analogy to your academic journey:

• Which paths have your consciously and unconsciously taken thus far?
  • What have they revealed?
  • What have you learned?
• What experiences, wins and apparent defeats have served as bridges to where you have arrived or hope to arrive?
  • Who or what has kept you connected and/or motivated?
  • What connections have you made?
  • How have you made sense of your experiences?
• Where have you found rest and support?
  • What is the value of pause and reflection?
  • How do we plan for and schedule rest points in our schedule, in our paths?
  • How will you support others?

Next time you take a study break or seek an outdoors green space for studying, consider the opportunities that the Kaskey Memorial Park, including the biopond and greenhouses, offer for self-reflection, self-assessment, self-nurture and growth.

By Staff Writer: Min Derry, Learning Fellow

The ARCH building intersects Arts, Research, and Culture:

• The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF)
• Ben Franklin Scholars
• University Scholars
• Makuu
• La Casa Latina
• The Pan Asian American Community House (PAACH)
• Student Performing Arts

It is designed to be a safe, supportive, inclusive, and critically generative space where students can assert their agency, activism, and ingenuity with confidence.

“One of the most engaging features of the building is the large amount of carved stone ornamental detail on the exterior.  There are three cross‑gables on the main (east) elevation.  The middle gable is placed adjacent to the southern end gable and is set back, forming a picturesque mass crowned by an elaborate double serpentine chimney.  A one-story entrance portico with Gothic details stands out from the middle gable and is set below a two-story mullioned window.  The south facade is marked by symmetrically placed polygonal bays with ornate stonework panels, battlements, and windows topped by trefoils” (Penn Facilities and Real Estate Services).

Address: 3601 Locust Walk, Philadelphia PA, 19104

Demographic: Undergraduate and graduate students

Noise Level: Bustling with activities

Traffic: Moderate to high

Perks: Gothic Revival Architecture, Performance Arts, Culture Houses, Nourishment, Meeting Rooms Available for Reservation

Accessible from Locust Walk near 36th Street:

Auditorium and meeting rooms that can be reserved:

There are student lounges throughout:

Culture Houses offer their own student lounges:

• Makuu
• La Casa Latina
• PAACH

If your academic endeavors invoke the intersection of culture, arts, and research, consider making The ARCH a motivating, inspirational, and interactional Study Spot!

By Staff Writer: Min Derry, Learning Fellow

If you enjoy urban, contemporary, modern architecture, check out the Stephen A. Levin Building as a study spot. The interdisciplinarity of the commitment its houses intersects studies of the brain with human behavior. Curiously, even “the building’s design reflects its function in the ornate aluminum sunscreen with cutouts on the south façade. The pattern of the sunscreen is designed to convey the branching and network structures found at all scales of biology and to resonate in psychological, linguistic and cognitive models” (Penn Today).

Part of Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences, it was inaugurated in 2016 as an “expansion of the Lynch Laboratories, this building provides for the collaboration, exchange, and integration of knowledge that characterizes the study of Biology and Psychology at Penn. The Levin Building is attached to the south end of the Leidy Laboratories Building and houses research laboratories, teaching facilities, and spaces designed for interactions to foster the kind of cross-disciplinary work that increasingly characterizes work in these fields” (Penn Facilities and Real Estate).

If your research question is interdisciplinary in nature, this may be the perfect study spot for you. Let your neuroscientific and neurobehavioral juices flow!

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Address: 425 S. University Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104–6220

Demographic: Interdisciplinary Neuroscience students, students from Biology, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at the School of Arts & Sciences

Noise Level: Calm ambiance

Traffic: Low to moderate

Perks: Cool Architecture, Next to Bio Pond, 2 Group Study Rooms Available for Reservation

By Staff Writer: Min Derry, Learning Instructor

If you like a smaller, cozier and more intimate study environment that feels a bit more manageable than larger libraries, with all of the benefits of book and resources pick up and returns, but more importantly, a wonderfully dedicated Reference staff, experience the Annenberg Library!

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Penn’s Annenberg School for Communication has a unique, eclectic, and critical ethos that is distinctly interdisciplinary. You will enjoy the student lounge right outside the library as much as the library itself. Also, check out the artwork as well as their regularly featured public events, such as guest speakers, movies, and other presentations.

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By Staff Writer, Min Derry, OLR Learning Fellow.

Address: 220 S 34^th St. (Just on the other side of Locust Walk from Van Pelt, adjacent to College Hall)

Hours: 9am-5pm (Summer) 8:30am-12am (Starting Fall Term 2016)

Noise Level: Very low

Perks: Some of the prettiest architecture on campus. Has been compared to Hogwarts. Access is open to all Penn students.

Fisher Fine Arts Library is one of my favorite spots on campus. While Fisher is hardly a secret, it is less frequented than Van Pelt and typically has open study space available. Unlike Van Pelt, which can be brimming with activity and a decent amount of noise at any given time in the semester, Fisher is very quiet. The library is so quiet on most days that you can hear a pin drop. Located just on the other side of Locust Walk from Van Pelt, Fisher is a must see and great study space. It is particularly great for reading and there’s no shortage of tables for study space here. 

One thing to be aware of if you’re planning to study in Fisher is to be prepared to charge any devices you might need for studying beforehand. The only drawback to studying in Fisher is that it is so gorgeous, you might be too busy gawking at the architecture to concentrate on your work. If you haven’t been to Fisher yet, definitely check it out.

If you’ve been to Fisher before and have any thoughts or feedback, or other great study spaces students should know about, feel free to comment below and we may just highlight one of them in the next blog post!

Staff Writer: Randall Perez

Looking for a new place to study for your final exams or write those final papers? Never fear – I’m here to help you find a location for success!

3501 Sansom St.

Hours: 7:30 a.m. – 11:45 p.m. through May 5, 8 a.m.-7:45 p.m. daily through May 10th

Noise level: Low

Perks: Quiet outdoor space with tables and chairs where you can enjoy the warm weather

If you’re trying to avoid the hustle and bustle of Van Pelt during finals week, you should definitely check out the Biddle Law Library. The Law Library is beautiful, well-lit, and extremely quiet. The library itself has two levels, with the main level serving as a more public and collaborative space. Head upstairs for more isolated study time at individual tables and carrels. If the weather is nice, make sure to visit the outside tables and chairs that are a perfect change of scenery from the stacks of books inside.

The Law Library also has an extensive collection of over one million primary and secondary sources. Its archival collection houses personal papers from famous lawyers and judges. This library is an excellent research site for Law students, but also for undergraduate students who are studying Political Science, PPE, or History.

The Biddle Law Library is a great destination for Quakers who crave a quiet study atmosphere. If you’re unable to make it over there before the end of the semester, it is certainly a place to check out when you get back to campus in August!

Staff Writer: Cassie Lo

Wondering where you should go this weekend to do your work? I’m here on Fridays to share local study spots that you should definitely check out if you’re on the hunt for that perfect location.

Leon Levy Dental Medicine Library
240 South 40th St.
Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5 p.m. (after hours and weekends are reserved to Dental School students and staff)
Noise level: Low
Perks: They have resources for basic sciences in addition to dental sciences including access to biomedical databases

At this point in the semester, Van Pelt is filled to the brim with students frantically studying for their midterms. Some people work well in semi-quiet, social spaces, but for those of you who prefer more muted locations, we suggest some of the less-frequented Penn libraries.

For those of you who live around 40th Street, the Leon Levy Dental Medicine Library is the place to be. The library is located within the Robert Schattner Center near the corner of 40th and Locust Streets. Once you show your Penn ID to the security guard at the info desk, ask for someone to point you in the right direction. The library is around several twists and turns within the building, but it is certainly worth the journey!

The library itself is a beautiful sight. The two floors are visible from the entrance, and there are tables on both levels that are perfect for studying by yourself or with a friend. The atmosphere is very calm and you’ll often see Dental students pop in for a quick study session between their classes.

The one downside of this space is that the hours for non-Dental students and staff are very slim, but it is easy to be productive here, even in a small amount of time.

Have a great spot that we should feature on our blog? Comment below and let us know where you study!