Huskie Guide

Hot Spots on Campus

Every Huskie has a favorite place on campus. Find yours.

Our campus offers many spaces for you to study with classmates or socialize with friends. With many beautiful outdoor spaces and cozy indoor areas, you're bound to find comfortable spots on campus to break open the books or kick back and relax.

Holmes Student Center

The Holmes Student Center is more than just a building. It’s the heart of campus life at NIU. Whether you're grabbing a meal with friends, studying between classes, attending an event, bowling at the Huskie Den or just finding a comfortable place to relax, the student center offers countless ways to connect with the Huskie community. With dining options, student services, meeting spaces and activities all under one roof, it's a place where memories are made and campus life comes alive.

Founders Memorial Library

Founders Memorial Library is one of the best places on campus to focus, learn and recharge. Whether you're looking for a quiet study space, access to research resources, help from knowledgeable staff or a comfortable spot to meet with classmates, the library has you covered. With multiple study areas, technology resources and the popular Einstein Bros. Bagels café, the library is a go-to destination for academic success and a favorite gathering place for Huskies throughout the year.

East Lagoon

You're sure to fall in love with our East Lagoon. A favorite spot for many Huskies, the lagoon provides many ways to connect with nature right on campus. With lots of space to throw down a blanket or hang up a hammock, you can study like crazy or just enjoy being lazy.

Davis Hall Fountains

Davis Hall offers more unique spaces than just its observatory and science labs. The fountains located outside are a popular area to have a quick lunch on the go or look over your class notes.

Zen Garden

Located behind Watson Hall, our zen garden is a hidden campus gem. It's a great place to spend a quiet moment between classes while reading a chapter of your textbook or sitting on your laptop to take an online quiz.

Where Huskies Hang Out

“My favorite spot on campus is Founders Memorial Library because it’s the perfect quiet place to study and get homework done without any distractions. Also, they have a good cafe called Einstein Bros. Bagels where I go to get my coffee and breakfast sandwich.”

Joshua Anderson,
industrial and systems engineering major

“I find DuSable Hall at night to be one of my favorite spots on campus. There is something kind of eerie but peaceful about empty buildings that I’m drawn to. After around 5 p.m., the only people who use the building are club meetings (in the basement) and sometimes an evening class. Other than that, there is a quiet atmosphere that makes it a perfect place for reflection or study sessions.”

Kenneth Jacksack,
transfer economics major

“My favorite spot on campus is this little nook near the East Lagoon. I can sit and watch all the geese and squirrels, but I am far enough away from everywhere else. It’s a very pleasant and calming place to be. I often sit and just listen to the water and nature around me while I read or crochet.”

Becca Katz,
history major, theatre studies minor

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