Oh, The Places You Haven’t Been

Ten stories, 3,500 students, and hundreds of rooms, gyms, and halls: Can a Stuyvesant student get a break?

Yes, they can.

When deciding where to spend a free, most students would generally gravitate toward a classic spot like the half-floor, the Sophomore Bar, the cafeteria, or any other over-crowded hub for students. However, if one looks just beyond the surface at Stuyvesant, one will find a world of undiscovered hideouts perfect for homework, hangouts, and more.

INNOVATION LAB HALLWAY

The lower floors are rife with hidden spots, but one stands out from the rest in terms of isolation. If you walk toward the guidance counselors office from the bridge and turn a sharp corner right before you get there, you will find yourself in a secluded hallway isolated from the traditional chaos of Stuyvesant. Usually only populated with a few lone studiers, the Innovation Lab Hallway is quiet, peaceful, and perfect for a productive study outing. Sophomore Shivali Korgaonkar can recall the many lunch periods she’s spend with friends having casual banter and studying for tests in those hallways. “I don’t know what I’d do without the Innovation Lab Hallway,” Korgaonkar remarked.

PIANO ROOM

While Stuyvesant’s piano room is widely accepted by the musicians and performers of the school, many other students are unfamiliar or apprehensive to pay a visit. The first floor Piano Room, which one can get to by making a right after passing the chorus room on the first floor, doesn’t exactly fit the peaceful criteria that many others on this list do. However, what it lacks in tranquility, it makes up for in fun. The Piano Room is a perfect place to bang on some keys, strum a guitar, and have a good conversation with a friend or a complete stranger.

RIVER STAIRCASE

Stuyvesant’s staircases are notorious for being overcrowded, loud, and a general pain in the neck. However, this preconception is unfair, especially when we consider the River Staircase, which snakes around our school’s infamous Hudson Staircase. The limited mobility that one is allowed on the stairs (only 5 floors of travel) is what makes the staircase such a special case, as there is hardly anybody on it at any given point. Sophomore Ian Graham credits a few points on his average to the River Staircase. “Every other staircase in Stuyvesant is a nightmare,” he said. “The River Staircase is the only efficient way left to get around. I can’t even count the number of times it’s saved me from being late to AP World [History].” Whether you’re looking for a quick route to get from two lower floor classes or a nice place to chill and have a chat with a friend in a secluded but central spot, the River Staircase is the spot to go to.

GYM STAIRCASE

While we’re on the topic of staircases, there’s another spot worth mentioning in this category. The gym staircase is possibly the most random major feature to our school—an entire staircase for just one class. In any case, the staircase is almost entirely vacant for the period of time after the gym-goers have emerged from the locker rooms, up until they return. With the exception of the occasional late-comer, the gym staircase provides six floors of vacant space, just waiting to be relaxed, worked, or walked upon.

Of course, this list only scratches the surface of the undiscovered locations in Stuyvesant, and there are undoubtedly dozens of other equally secluded and interesting places to visit.

However, it is imperative that if you do choose to venture to the corners of our school to visit these locations, you do so in a respectful and thoughtful manner. Let’s keep these peaceful, quiet spots just the way they are.