Gearing up for the winter semester grind.
By Arielle Chin, Staff Writer
As all students know, your surroundings can make or break your study session. To make your Winter grind more productive and enjoyable, I’ve compiled my top 5 favorite study spots around campus — some popular and some underrated.
#5: Trinity College Quad
Trinity College’s Quad provides an ambient and serene landscape while being relatively secluded within the building’s historic walls (put on a dark academic playlist to spice things up). I spent a lot of time sitting on the benches in the Quad when there was warmer weather working on assignments or chatting with friends about theories of international relations. The great outdoors offers stable wifi, but no power ports. However, it’s a short commute for students living in Trinity College, where you can charge up.
Overall, I would rate this spot a 6/10 because, although you can bask in the sun and shades, it’s limited in terms of seating. The well-tended grassy expanses could make up for that, but Toronto’s signature winter renders the space too cold, or wet, or snowy, or all of the above — perhaps the ideal habitat for snowmen, but not human students and their electronic devices. Come back in the summer or fall to turn your pages as nature turns green or gold!
#4: Hart House
A 4-minute walk from Trinity College, Hart House is a popular spot for both physical and intellectual workouts.
Don’t forget to move your body every hour if you are sitting for long periods! Quickly hitting the Hart House gym, or simply standing and stretching, can help reduce stress and refocus yourself for another productive study session.
Two popular sports inside are the Hart House Library and The Arbor Room. With both individual and group tables, the library provides a peaceful space to study by yourself or with friends. The ivy-bound windows and the sights beyond them offer great temporary resting places for your screen-strained eyes. In the Arbor Room cafe downstairs, you can work inside or outside (weather permitting) with the support of a quick bite, such as the avocado toast.
Overall, I would give Hart House a 7/10.
#3: The Buttery (Gerald Larkin Building)
The Buttery is located on the main floor of the Gerald Larkin Building, adjacent to Trinity College. Ample, cushioned seatings can comfortably accommodate a study party of one or many members. One of Trinity’s two dining locations, it provides a feast of food options, from filling pizza and wraps to quick snacks and treats. Local vending machines can also hit you with a solid or liquid dose of sweet, sweet motivation. Many students occupy the space to dine and chat, providing a lively cafe ambiance if that’s what you enjoy. However, if you go in the late afternoon, you can also get a few quiet work hours.
The Buttery gets a 7.5/10 because it’s a convenient location and has a variety of seating locations.
#2: OISE 7th Floor Peace Lounge
After seeing this spot mentioned on an Instagram reel, I went to check the hidden gem out myself. It’s peaceful with a beautiful bird’s-eye view overlooking the Varsity Stadium and the Munk School of Global Affairs. A variety of seating options is available from couches and benches to desk seats to sit with friends. The plant residents on the desks make for cozy company. I would also recommend the OISE library on the main floor, especially if you have classes in this building.
Overall, I would give the Peace Lounge an 8.5/10 because it’s not a busy or popular study spot which means it’s quiet and allows for optimal focus.
#1: Sidney Smith (Commons)
Coming in on top is the Sidney Smith building — a 10-minute walk from Trinity College. As someone who has a work-study job here, the Second Cup Cafe on the main floor allows me to grab a cookie before or after work. The Sidney Smith Commons has a lot of different seating options–you can even book out sections to host group study meetings. The Commons Assistants on-site can help you with booking spaces, finding academic resources, and providing peer support. Sidney Smith Commons is another popular study location, but the noise level is kept to a minimum because everyone is concentrating on their work. Students can be seen doing their work on couches right across from the Second Cup Cafe as well, which applies a subtle peer pressure for you to be productive.
Sidney Smith gets a 9/10 because of its proximity to Robarts Library where you can also find good locations to study.
