Our top 5 favorite study spots on Illinois State’s campus

Junior Huzefa Munaver heads to the Quad when he is looking for a pleasant place to study.

“I love setting up my hammock on the Quad,” said Munaver, a finance major from Aurora. “It’s my favorite place to get homework done.” 

Illinois State’s campus offers many locations that are perfect for sitting back and studying. From the Quad to the Milner Library, there’s a spot for every Redbird to relax and refocus. 

Thanks to new renovations at the Bone Student Center, Redbirds now have more study spots to choose from than ever. As the fall semester gets into full swing, let’s take a look at some of the best study spots the Illinois State campus has to offer. 

Bone Student Center

This semester, students returned to a renovated Bone Student Center. In addition to new restaurants and services, the renovations also brought new study spots to the Bone. 

The ground level of the Bone is livelier than ever before, becoming home to a new Starbucks as well as the University’s new grab-and-go offering, The Landing. This new area is perfect for those looking to get a coffee or a quick bite to eat while they study, and the surrounding spaces boast comfortable seating options. The north side ground level also features a new fireplace, surrounded by chairs and couches. For students who want to study outside, the Bone now has a courtyard on the south side ground level and outdoor seating attached to the north side second level.

The Atrium Lounge on the third floor is another attractive option at the Bone, providing a scenic view to the north and an abundance of natural lighting through its wall of windows. When the weather outside isn’t ideal, the Atrium Lounge allows students to take in the local scenery from indoors.

Milner Library

While the library may seem like an obvious choice for this story, there are plenty of “hidden gem” study spots throughout Milner’s six floors. 

The cubicles on the sixth floor of Milner Library have been my go-to study spot during my three years at Illinois State. They offer comfortable seclusion allowing students to focus and grind away on their homework. Each cubicle is equipped with outlets for students who need to charge their laptop or phone. Being on the library’s top floor gives students a picturesque glimpse of the north edge of campus and Watterson Towers and Hewett and Manchester Halls.

For students who seek more privacy, Milner’s fifth floor offers a handful of study rooms. Each come with large roundtables, perfect for group projects or study sessions with friends. The fifth floor also houses a presentation practice room that students can check out for up to three hours. The presentation practice room provides a monitor, DVD player, and a collaboration station.

“The fifth floor study rooms are great,” said Shelby Balogh, a junior special education major from Paw Paw. “I’m always able to finish my assignments in there.”

Student Fitness Center

The Student Fitness Center is great place for a workout and to participate in intramural sports, but it also serves as a versatile study spot for many. The center’s location a block west of the Quad is convenient for those looking for a place to study in between classes.

The lobby has several seating options near the Starbucks. There are also benches with umbrellas located just outside the building.

An enclosed bridge over University Street connects the Student Fitness Center and McCormick Hall and features a row of tables and chairs, perfectly set up for students to study and observe the activity of campus from above. 

State Farm Hall of Business

While the State Farm Hall of Business is populated mostly by College of Business students and faculty, the beautiful building offers a handful of study spots for any student.

The building’s cafe, the Business Bistro, serves a variety of snacks and drinks for those looking for a quick recharge. A courtyard located outside of the building is adorned with foliage and offers a handful of benches and open space, perfect for studying or simply relaxing.

The Quad

The Quad is arguably the most beautiful study spot available at Illinois State. The long green expanse that stretches north to the south through the heart of campus is home to the lush, 490-acre Fell Arboretum and is surrounded by the majority of the University’s academic buildings and facilities. 

In the middle of the Quad lies a welcoming gazebo shaded by the many trees in its vicinity. The gazebo has space to accommodate groups. In addition to the gazebo, the Quad is home to an assortment of conveniently located benches.

Many Redbirds prefer to find a spot on the grass. To utilize the arboretum, some like to set up hammocks between the trees. While the Quad is great for studying, many like to use it for sports, picnics, and other group activities.