In any case, every group project has different needs, which is why I’ve ranked them based on how comfortable they are for group projects, mainly, and also given them a section based on what purpose they serve best. ;)
1. Vrijhof 170 (VR 170)
Most people don’t book this room, and instead opt for the ones on the second floor that everyone walking by can see into. Group projects can get loud, especially if you’re discussing something important, so that’s why VR 170 was chosen: it’s far and away the best room in the library area. VR 170 is separated from the other rooms in the library, located in the hallway and close to the fire exit, and this is precisely why this room is the best. I’ve been in most of the rooms in Vrijhof, and every time, without fail, we’ll be speaking a little too loudly, and the next thing you know, you have people knocking on the glass and poking their heads in through the door, asking you to be a bit quieter.
VR 170 has none of this: the closest rooms to you are the single-person rooms, and since the people there will most likely already be wearing headphones, you won’t have any issue with speaking normally. The room is the largest one in the library, and also includes the best office chairs around. However, do be aware that the room can get stuffy inside, and the ventilation isn’t super effective.
Best for: research-based projects, group work sessions, group meetings, and exam prep. My only complaint is that it’s further away from the entrance than the other rooms, which means you have to go all the way back upstairs to get food, even though it’s right next to the bike parking.
2. Bastille Tables 7-9 (BA PR 07-09)
My disdain for the Bastille building is well known, but I do have to admit that these tables are great at what they’re meant to do. I’ve seen groups work on code, on a weird wooden disk launcher/contraption thingy (a CreaTe project), and more recently, on the aforementioned single-stage mechanism for Mechanical Engineering. The tables are sturdy, spacious, and most importantly, all of their chargers work. I’ve found that the round tables in Bastille, while more comfortable, often don’t have working chargers, which is an ultimate deal-breaker.
One complaint I do have, though, is that you need to either clamber over people, over other desks, or outright ask the people sitting next to you to get up whenever you want to go get food or go to the bathroom. The little booths that the square tables are in require you to squeeze in between your friends to get to where you want.
If you’re looking to book this table, then don’t worry: most of the time, this table is never booked. Due to its more casual nature, the Bastille usually hosts people who are doing light studying and aren’t fussed about room bookings.
Best for: practical projects and exam prep. As mentioned before, the tables are stable and spacious, which makes setting up a fast-moving object for a project ideal – the only thing that beats it are probably the metal I-beams in The Horst.
3. Technohal – 2nd/3rd floor glass rooms
If you’re a frequent visitor to Technohal, then you’ve probably seen these rooms around the layout. They’re medium-sized, glass-walled rooms with a table and several chairs around it. The tables, again, are very sturdy, and the chairs are quite comfortable. Each room usually comes with its own charging station, and I’m pleased to say that out of all of these rooms, only one on the third floor has a charging station that doesn’t work. These tables are non-bookable, so if you find yourself in an empty Technohal, then make sure you bee-line towards one of them.
However, I would have preferred a bigger table, so for group projects that are larger than six people, these rooms are unsuitable. Technohal is also very crowded most of the time, so you’ll scarcely find these rooms unoccupied. You’ll have the best luck towards the end of the week, usually on Thursdays or Fridays, as fewer people come to campus during those days, and you’ll find several rooms free of people in Technohal.
Best for: practical projects, group work sessions, and exam prep. The whole of Technohal is beautiful when it’s quiet and there are barely any people inside, so you can’t go wrong with these rooms. Plus, it’s got a killer view.
4. Vrijhof 275B (VR 275B)
Like the other Vrijhof room, this one on the second floor is a bit separated from the other rooms crowding around the balcony. It’s located in a little secluded area that is to the left of you when you enter the silent area through the main doors, where I rarely see people studying (except when it’s exam week). VR 275B is also located next to the Chameleon Room, which is a little living room best used for relaxing and taking care of your well-being between your group projects. Once again, as it’s a bit separate from the main study area in the library, most people won’t mind if you’re a bit loud in this room. They also have really nice chairs, though these are unfortunately not office chairs.
In addition, all of the Vrijhof rooms have a big screen that you can plug your laptop into, so you can present things without any problem. If you’re a little more creative and you’re taking a break from studying, I’ve seen many students fire up their F1 stream and watch the race during the weekends.
Best for: group study sessions, group meetings, and exam prep. Aside from VR 170, this room is the only one with comfortable chairs in the Vrijhof environment, so if you can’t go for VR 170, try to book this room instead.
5. Horst Tower rooms (HT 7-12)
These rooms are always booked when you need them, and never when you don’t need them. I’ve grown to hate meetings here, as recently my group meetings have lasted all but ten minutes, and that does NOT repay the effort needed to get up to these rooms.
Anyhow, if you are an engineering student, these rooms are preferred by your group tutors mainly because their offices are already located in the Horst building, so they need only walk and take the elevator. You’ll have most of your group meetings with your tutor here, and you’ll also see several other groups from your study programme holding meetings in these rooms. Just make sure you book a week in advance just to be safe, as even three days before a meeting is cutting it close, especially during busy weeks. You don’t want to be the one to tell your tutor that you don’t have a meeting room and instead have to sit at the round tables in Bastille.
Best for: group meetings, group work sessions. I suppose it’s got a pretty killer view of Enschede if you’re high enough, and the view is especially pretty when it’s autumn.
