UVA Places to Study When You Need a Break from Your Apartment

Sarah Carr
Forge
Published in
4 min readOct 18, 2020

COVID-19 has drastically transformed all of our lives, and unfortunately, that includes my study habits too. I don’t know about you, but for me, I can never get any work done in my own room. There’s just way too many distractions at home, from the TV in the living room to the bed right next to my desk that I can just hop into to “reward” myself after working for 5 minutes. So that’s why me and Emily, one of the marketing managers at Forge, have decided to compile a list of some of our favorite study spots that are still open and accessible during COVID-19. (P.S we know you know where the libraries are, so this list is library-free.)

On Grounds

I definitely don’t go on grounds as much as I used to, since most of my classes are online. If that’s you and you ever find yourself missing Grounds, you can still check out some of these study spots. Not only can you trick yourself into thinking it’s the good, old, pre-COVID days, but you’ll also get a major amount of work done.

Tents around grounds

The tents around grounds are a great place to study with a group. They were set up specifically because of social distancing regulations, but we hope this is an addition here to stay. We love working outside, but it used to be always difficult to find a spot. But now, there are several tents set up in different spots on Grounds, so there are always open tables.

New Cabell windows

If the weather isn’t looking too great, head into New Cabell for an indoor setting. There are several study spaces around New Cabell, but the window seats are a classic spot if you’re looking for a spot to get work done on your own and the natural lighting definitely helps with productivity.

The Corner

There’s a couple great spots on the Corner to meet up with friends to grab a quick bite and also to get some work done.

Corner Starbucks (upstairs space)

When you enter Starbucks, there’s a couple of tables downstairs, but try heading upstairs to snag a seat at one of the multiple long tables. This is one of the busier places on the list, but the Starbucks on the Corner is a great spot if you enjoy the hustle and bustle company.

1515

During the week, 1515 is usually pretty quiet, so there’s always plenty of space in the main room downstairs. The rooms upstairs are usually taken, but they make a great spot to study on your own or with a small group if you can grab one. There’s also a room in the game room downstairs too that’s tucked away, so don’t forget to check there too if you want some privacy.

Around C-ville

If you’re looking to get out of the UVA bubble for a bit, try a spot around Charlottesville and check out these local coffee shops. There’s nothing like sipping on a latte and taking your laptop out with coffee shop music playing in the background.

Shenandoah Joe

The Shenandoah Joe’s on Preston Avenue is normally less crowded than the Corner Joe location (but Corner Joe is still a great study space if you’re looking for something closer). There’s plenty of tables inside so it’s easy to stay spread out and comply with the six-feet rule.

Milli Coffee Roasters

Milli Coffee Roasters, also on Preston Avenue, is another great spot to get some work done. Make sure to stop by when it’s nice out to take advantage of their outdoor seating.

Hope you enjoyed our list and that these places will help you find your pre-COVID productivity and motivation. It definitely did for us, and we’re always looking for more. So if you have a favorite study spot that we missed, let us know at hello@joinforge.co.

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