story by Amyah Amezcua-Mejia | photo by Amal Dahi | design by Roselyn Sanchez

The door closes and the ceiling dissolves into stars, constellations drift slow and wide across a domed ceiling while soft music fills the air. Your seat reclines and the outside world disappears, immersing you in the sky above. Most students have never even thought to open the door. This is the Lydig Planetarium.

The Lydig Planetarium is not the only secret CWU has been keeping. These spaces have been here the whole time — hiding in plain sight while most students keep circling the same overcrowded spaces. These are just a few of the best study spots available to all students, regardless of major or year. PULSE asked students where they go when they need to focus, reset or simply escape for a while. These are some locations you might just want to check out.

MCC Study Spaces, Prayer and Meditation Room

Nestled away in Black Hall, the brand new Multicultural Center (MCC) is an underrated study spot that most students walk right past.

The MCC offers a wide variety of spaces, including study rooms that are reservable and private enough to make you feel like you have the entire space to yourself. This location also has a Resource Library and shared organization spaces. For something quieter, there's also a Prayer and Reflection Room — a space that Mariah Gilmore, a second-year biology and STEM teaching major who works in the MCC swears by.

“It is entirely insulated, so you can’t hear anything when you're in there,” Gilmore says, “it is so quiet, you can hear yourself breathing.” Gilmore uses the room to decompress and refocus between classes. Whether you need a private space to study, a quiet room to gather your thoughts or a place to simply exist without the noise of campus humming in, the MCC offers something for everyone.

Second Floor of Health Sciences Building

In a low-traffic area of a bustling building, there is a bright, open and quiet nook to study. Plants soften the space, moveable whiteboards and dry-erase markers sit ready and the floor-to-ceiling windows frame a great view of campus. This study spot is located on the second floor of the Health Sciences building.

Lupita Silva, a first-year nutrition graduate student who stumbled onto the spot during her freshman year, describes the vibe as refreshing.

“There’s a lot of plants, there’s the big windows — during the later times of the day, the sun will hit and it’s relaxing,” Silva says. “It just sets you in a mood to really stay productive.”

Lydig Planetarium – Discovery Hall

Hidden inside Discovery Hall, the planetarium is a domed, dimly lit room, with theater-style reclining seats that provide a perfect view of the stars and planets on the ceiling. It is typically empty, completely free and one of the most unique places on campus to sit down and unwind.

“It is calming, seeing stars and planets above you in a large dome,” says Moises Rodriguez, a second-year transfer family and consumer science education major who first discovered the space through a campus club. “You don’t usually get to sit in a spot with stars, music, and dim lighting and have it open just to sit and decompress,” says Rodriguez. The planetarium has varying hours, but is open regularly for visitation.

Third Floor Lounge in Shaw-Smyser [Pulse Pick]

Shaw-Smyser Hall carries a reputation that keeps most students out before they ever step in. It is the College of Business building and if your major lives somewhere else on campus, it probably never crossed your mind to wander inside.

When studying gets to be too much, a ping pong table and mini basketball hoop sit ready for a quick reset. Comfortable couches, desk space and a view of Barge Hall that borders on cinematic, makes it one of the most comfortable spots on campus. The lounge is open to both students and faculty. It is quiet, cozy and almost always empty.

Breeze Thru Cafe – Michaelson & Randall Hall

You have likely passed under this location and didn’t even know. Perched on the elevated walkway connecting Michaelson and Randall Hall, the Breeze Thru Cafe hovers above the daily rush of campus life below.

Alex Sanchez, a third-year senior accounting student, found the spot while looking for a new cafe to try. Now it is one of his go-to spots on campus. “You're able to get a lot of natural lighting and it's usually not too loud,” Sanchez says. “Even at busy hours, it's pretty easy to find a seat.”

Inside, the space is open with a variety of seating, lots of natural light and a noise level that sits comfortably between lively and calm. The space also has a printer on site, which means you can wrap up without having to pack up and move, making it practical and comfortable. The Breeze Thru Cafe also has a variety of coffee, energy, tea and food options to keep you fueled through even the longest study sessions.

These five spaces are just a starting point. CWU’s campus is full of places that most students never think to explore — lounges tucked into upper floors, quiet rooms behind unmarked doors, spots that reveal themselves only to the curious. The best study and quiet spaces are not always the most obvious ones. So the next time the SURC feels too loud or your usual spot in the library is taken, try a different building, floor or corner.

Push open a door you have never opened before. You might be surprised by what this campus has been quietly holding for you all along.

CWU’s Hidden Gems: A Guide to Study Spots & Quiet Spaces