My Favorite Hidden Study Spots at RIT

RIT is a sprawling campus that occupies 1,300 acres, and yet it absolutely doesn’t feel that way sometimes when you’re trying to find a spot to study and keep stumbling upon crowds of people. Finding a quiet, private spot is like stumbling on the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. As a certified fifth-year student, I know the ins and outs of the campus that aren’t shown to you on the prospective student tours.

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

This building houses mostly graduate courses and lab spaces for highly specialized majors on campus, lending itself very little foot traffic during the day. The first floor is completely open, with multiple chairs, tables, and outlets for your use. If you need a quick power nap before one of your classes in a nearby building, the couches underneath the stairs are perfect for sprawling out. Out of all study spots on campus, this one is definitely my favorite.

What’s even more secret is this “collaboration room” on the fourth floor above the entrance closest to Slaughter. Unfortunately, this is not a completely unknown spot, and you may find people up here. However, it’s one of the quietest, most private areas to study if you manage to secure it by yourself!

Slaughter Hall (Louise Slaughter Hall)

Adjacent to the Sustainability building is the entrance to Slaughter, a sprawling building that contains everything from computer labs, lecture halls, robotics labs, and research equipment. While this building sees more traffic and is a bit louder than Sustainability, there is a long row of small tables on the second floor beside the elevator in the lobby. These tables are perfect for just yourself or a pair of people. I personally enjoy this space because I don’t feel guilty sitting at a small table that properly fits me instead of sitting at a larger table somewhere else and hogging up a bunch of space.

Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science

While the Imaging Science building may look a bit dated upon walking in, if you head above the ground floor to one of the corners of the building, you will find modern furnishings perfect for studying. These locations also provide some of the best natural lighting you’ll find anywhere on campus while studying. That may not matter as much to you in the fall when the weather is still nice, but you will absolutely be craving the sun in February when it’s been cloudy for 3 weeks in a row.

James E. Gleason Hall

As one of the largest buildings on campus, there are numerous dedicated study spaces throughout the building. Most notable is Erdle Commons, and while it absolutely serves its purpose, it’s a noisy space with tons of distractions. Students from across the building will use it as a meeting place to determine where to go for lunch or have loud conversations unrelated to academics. However, if you walk up the stairs to the second floor and across the building, you will find yourself in the foyer of the semiconductor labs at RIT. Decorated with alternating orange pipes and recently furnished with new tables and chairs, this spot has been renovated to match RIT’s modern aesthetic. Keep in mind that this space receives a lot of foot traffic from being the main corridor between Gleason and Golisano. However, at night or between classes, this is a perfect place to grind out some assignments.

Immediately around the corner is the staircase that connects Golisano with Gleason through an indoor bridge. Underneath the stairs are a bunch of table setups that are perfect for a study session. Like the other location around the corner, this receives a lot of foot traffic during the morning and early afternoon. The best window for studying here falls between 4-7 pm. There is also an exit immediately on my right (not pictured), which directs you into the heart of Global Village, where you can grab a tasty dinner after working so hard.