Oh, how I strangely love it here.

It’s taken me years to figure out my rhythm, where I’m actually productive instead of just pretending to be. It hasn’t been easy, especially because I am well aware I can turn almost any space into a distraction zone. But over the past year, I’ve finally found what works.

There’s just something about the Avery Basement that works for me. It has this low-key, tucked-away energy and creative bunker vibe. With GSAPP projects lining the walls like a rotating gallery at a museum and grad students drifting through with journals, computers, models and sketches. It’s alive without being overwhelming. I’ve never thrived in dead silence. If I wanted to hear my thoughts echo back at me, I’d go to Butler’s reading rooms. I need background noise I can settle into, and Avery gives me exactly that. It provides a steady hum that makes focusing feel natural.

It’s so comforting that I know of multiple friends that have taken full, long  “naps” on those beanbags that sit at the entrance. And even though it’s a space dominated by grad students, it’s almost never packed, which I never really understood, so I’m just gonna confidently label it as underrated. There’s always a table, always a corner available and inviting you. My friend once called it an “abandoned café,” and honestly, the label is very accurate, and that’s actually my favorite part. 

The only downside is how easy it is to lose track of time. Hours disappear down there, and with daylight savings, surfacing afterward feels like climbing out of a bunker straight into the dark. But that’s also its charm. It’s a basement that somehow manages to feel both hidden and comforting. A place that doesn’t try too hard, doesn’t demand anything from you, and just lets you exist.

On a campus that’s constantly rushed and overcrowded, having a spot like that feels like a quiet win. So I recommend if “abandoned cafes” are your vibe.

Basement Stairs Via Bwogger