From libraries to gyms, here’s how Penn’s campus amenities will operate this fall

This semester, there will be a variety of campus amenities available to students including recreational spaces, exercise facilities, and libraries. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most well-known amenities on campus, as well as their current COVID-19-related policies. 

Study spaces

Van Pelt Library, one of the most cherished study spots for students at Penn, is currently open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to Penn community members and visitors, according to Penn Libraries. Starting on August 31, the first day of classes, the library will expand its hours to 8:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday. Masks are required in all Penn libraries as per Penn's indoor mask mandate, though students can eat or drink in most areas of Van Pelt. 

Students and visitors no longer need a reservation to browse Van Pelt's stacks, check out books, or access available self-study spaces. However, the library also has reservable study spaces, which can be booked through the platform LibCal or the Penn Mobile App. 

Fisher Fine Arts Library, known for its beautiful architecture and being one of the quietest study spaces on campus, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and is closed on the weekends. No food is allowed in the library, and while self-study spaces are available without a reservation, students can also reserve larger seminar rooms. 

Huntsman Hall, home to group study rooms and various quiet study spaces, will resume its normal fall hours on Aug. 30. The building will be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. While the building is accessible to all Penn students, only students enrolled in the Wharton School can reserve the building’s many group study rooms, or GSRs, which are typically in high demand.

Gyms and athletic amenities

All full-time undergraduate and graduate students have complimentary access to Pottruck Health and Fitness Center, which is located at 37th and Walnut streets. Pottruck is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Reservations will no longer be required, and towel service will not be available. Masks are required in indoor gym areas. 

Additional amenities within Pottruck, such as Sheerr Pool, will be open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gimbel Gymnasium will also allow full court, 5-on-5 basketball games, though members must bring their own basketball. Group exercise classes will operate under a hybrid model of in-person classes at Pottruck and virtual classes on Zoom, with the class schedule set to be released soon.

Franklin Field will have “track open hours” for Penn community members with a valid PennCard from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. Scheduled events and summer camps, accessible through the Franklin Field schedule, may interfere with open hours. Reservations are no longer required.

Penn Park, a 24-acre park located at 31st and Walnut streets, is also open to students. The park includes both turf and natural grass athletic fields, a multi-purpose stadium, and a tennis center. While Ace Adams Field is closed, Dunning-Cohen Champions Field has drop-in hours on weekdays when the field is not scheduled for other usage, with no reservation required. 

Correction: A previous version of this article stated incorrect hours of Van Pelt Library. The story has been updated accordingly. The DP regrets this error.