Wharton Students’ Favorite Memories in Huntsman Hall

Written by Sydney Lim (W’25), Edited by Penny Oh (W’24)

 Huntsman Hall

     Frequented and favored by many Wharton undergraduate and graduate students, Jon M. Huntsman Hall opened in 2002 and was named after Jon Huntsman Sr., a 1959 Wharton graduate who donated over 50 million dollars to Penn. Containing 48 classrooms, 57 group study rooms (GSRs), and many lecture halls/auditoriums, Wharton students have become quite familiar with Huntsman Hall, spending countless hours in group study sessions, meetings, and class.

     “My favorite memory in Huntsman is watching a movie in a GSR before a midterm after cramming for it all day,” said first-year student Nina Saluja.

     With Huntsman Hall being located on the corner of 38th and Walnut, some students spend most of their time there in classes while others spend numerous hours there studying, depending on its proximity to their respective dorms.

     “My to-go-to study spot in Huntsman is the open [forum], where people can do work individually or collaborate with one another,” said first-year student Candice Huang. Being surrounded by others studying gives Huang more motivation to continue reviewing for her courses.

     First-year students Bonnie Li and Krishi Kothari agree with Huang, preferring to study on the couches in the forum. “I love how the people whispering and typing in the background provides a nice ambiance to study to,” recalled Li.

     For those who want a more private study session, GSRs provide another option. These spaces have smaller tables fit for group or individual work, TVs that students can connect to, and whiteboard walls that can be used to write notes on. First-year students Sharon Zhou, Karen He, and Bonnie Li have some of their favorite memories of studying with friends in these GSRs. Li’s favorite memory was an unexpected birthday surprise during a seemingly typical MATH104 weekly group study session.

     “I had no idea,” said Li, “but when I opened the door and saw my friends there with a box of my favorite insomnia cookies, I was so happy.”

Pret Cafés

     Students also frequent the Pret cafés. The first Pret cafe location is on the ground floor of Hunstman Hall with an outdoor-accessible entrance. The second, known as the MBA café, can be found on the second floor of Huntsman. These cafes have made Huntsman Hall not only a principal building for Wharton students to study and learn but also a convenient spot to grab a snack and socialize. 

     First-year student Selina Qiu enjoys visiting Pret when she goes to Huntsman Hall for her lectures. “My favorite memories are buying croissants from Pret and sharing them with friends. I like their almond, plain, and chocolate [croissants] and… sometimes I go there for lunch, so I get their bacon and chicken sandwich with chicken farro soup,” said Qiu.

     Candice Huang’s favorite memory at Huntsman also revolves around Pret’s almond croissant, something she looks forward to getting after having an early morning recitation. Other students also enjoy the lattes and coffee drinks, stopping by in-between classes.

Cover Photo Courtesy of The DP