The Many Faces of Mundelein: A 14-Story Search for Forgotten Study Spots

With finals week fast approaching, the need for quiet and cozy spaces becomes essential to hone in on everything from organic chemistry problems to music theory lecture slides. 

There’s no doubt Mundelein Center for the Fine and Performing Arts has some of the lesser known gems in the world of Loyola academia — these studious secrets may be the perfect place to prepare for those looming exams.

Floor One: The Lounge

Located directly across from Center Stage Café, the Mundelein lounge boasts a large, open room with a variety of seating options. To avoid the caffeine-fueled crowds in the heat of the school day, try working in the space during evening hours when the building is no longer holding classes.

Floor Two: High-Table Hallway

Just outside Jo Ann Rooney Hall lies a secluded hallway home to several wooden hightop tables. This hidden hangout offers open seating throughout the day and is more intimate during the evening hours. When faced with creeping exams or homework deadlines, consider dropping by for an academic pit stop after your next Center Stage coffee run.

Floor Three: General Classrooms

The hub of Loyola’s Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Mundelein’s third floor is home to a handful of classrooms and lab-simulations specifically designated for aspiring nurses. But don’t fret — these classrooms are available to all students whenever classes aren’t taking place, making them an ideal location for a private and productive study session.

Floor Four: Palm Court and Lobby

Found in the core of floor four, Palm Court features floor to ceiling windows that bless this stunning hall with natural light and scenic views. A lobby located just outside its doors offers additional bench seating, providing a dimmer alternative for students preferring a less sunshine-y space. Both areas are open to students when events aren’t taking place, but the room is usually reserved during evening hours.

Floor Five: Cozy Corner Lounge

Tucked away on the fifth floor’s southeast corner lies a hidden lounge area perfect for catching up on schoolwork. With cushy chairs and wooden coffee tables, try working in this location the next time you need to write a lengthy essay.

Floor Six: Countertop Lounge and Central Seating

Deep in the depths of the sixth floor’s east side lies a subtle high-table countertop with windows overlooking Lake Shore Campus. Plenty of additional seating is offered, and best of all, the lounge is located away from the hustle and bustle of classrooms. The floor offers an additional study space near the elevators, but the corner counter is usually much less crowded.

Floor Seven: Greenhouse and General Floor Lounge

Mundelein’s not-so-secret greenhouse is an ideal spot for students who enjoy the serenity of Palm Court, providing much grander views of crystal-clear Lake Michigan. The room is quite echoey and often booked for evening events, so the seventh floor’s general lounge offers guaranteed seating in a more social setting.

Floor Eight: Festive Hallway Seating

Students craving the aesthetic of the holiday season should make their way to the eighth floor’s Christmas-themed hallway. Home to the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, expect to find everything from Christmas trees to wrapped gifts with a sprinkle of wintertime cheer. The only available seating options are benches, but the location makes for a perfect place to remain productive between classes.

Floor Nine: Elevator Lounge

The ninth floor doesn’t feature many hidden gems in the world of seclusive study locations but does feature a larger general seating area just beyond the elevators. While the space will be crowded during peak class times, its lesser-travelled location on a higher floor of the building ensures a guaranteed privacy during later hours, making it the ideal place for an inevitable late-night study session.

Floor 10: Practice Room Seating

Students participating in the fine arts are well aware of the various music rooms found throughout the 10th floor, but benches sprinkled among the interwoven hallways create comfy atmospheres for studying. Elongated windows look out over East Quad, so consider tackling a quick assignment or two here when waiting on a practice area.

Floor 11: Secluded Lounge

There’s an often empty loungeable area located on the 11th floor, making it one of the quietest gems on this list. Whether waiting for a class or simply looking for secluded space to do some course readings, this cutesy, comfy area is a great option for the dedicated academic.

Floor 12: Carpeted Lounge

All of Mundie’s lounges are great study spots for the busy academic, but the patterned carpet spread throughout the 12th floor offers a uniquely charming touch to the space. The area is ideal for group work, providing a relatively free space to finish that time-consuming project.

Floor 13: Office Lounge Benches

Despite its abundance of fine arts offices, the seating area found on the 13th floor allows students to hone in on assignments when waiting to meet with professors. Benches are the only option here, but the floor empties out during early evenings to allow for much needed progress on that procrastinated assignment.

Floor 14: Event Spaces

The 14th floor consists of grand, open spaces meant for fine arts events. When such programs are not in session, consider using the floor’s desks and emptiness for solo or group work. Crowds are little to none, so take advantage of the penthouse of Mundelein’s many study spots during your next cram session.