Student Kitchen
Looking to flex your cooking skills? Keen to dazzle your friends with a homemade meal? Or perhaps you want to surprise your roommate with a birthday cake? Discover the Berkeley Student Kitchen, nestled behind the buttery kitchen. This kitchen is open to all Berkeley students eager to whip up their own dishes and can be reserved through the Berkeley College Office. To reserve the kitchen, start by checking the reservation schedule for availability or drop by the Berkeley College Office during business hours. Then, complete a kitchen request form with your desired date and time. Remember, reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Note that reservations made after 4pm on Friday for the same weekend cannot be accommodated. Once you’ve finished using the kitchen, please fill out a kitchen check-out form. Make sure to acquaint yourself with the student kitchen rules prior to making a reservation.
Please treat this space with care and ensure it’s clean for the next culinary enthusiast. Enjoy your cooking!
Rules:
- Access. The Kitchen is generally locked and can be accessed with a key from the Head of College’s Office. A $20 deposit is required.
- Keep it clean! To keep the kitchen usable for all, we ask that you please clean up and wash all your dishes after you’ve used it. If you leave the kitchen dirty, your kitchen privileges will be revoked.
- Food. If you plan on leaving food in the fridge or freezer, please label it with your name and the date. Perishable food that is left unattended for over 2 weeks will be thrown away.
Should you require any item that you feel is essential for the kitchen (such as utensils or small appliances), do not hesitate to reach out to Naomi DiGioia at naomi.digioia@yale.edu with your request. We are committed to procuring these items promptly.
We appreciate your respect for this space and adherence to the rules. Should you have any inquiries or wish to offer comments/suggestions, please feel free to email us or note them in the “suggestions” section of the check-out form.
Berkeley Gym
The Berkeley Gym, situated in the basement sections B and C, stands as one of Yale’s finest residential college weight rooms. All Berkeley students are granted swipe access using their standard ID card, with the facility open 24/7. Additionally, there is an auxiliary gym in North Court; keys for this gym are available at the Berkeley College Office and may be retained throughout the academic year. Inquiries and requests pertaining to the weight room should be directed to the Head of College’s Office.
Berkeley Lazarus Library
The George and Shelly Lazarus Library, situated in South Court, forms the scholarly core of Berkeley College. Whether students seek a tranquil reading spot or a silent study area, the Lazarus Library meets the need. It boasts a superbly curated selection of novels and reference books, alongside a variety of current periodicals such as The New Yorker for browsing. The library is a hub of student activity throughout the day and into the evening.
Below the Berkeley Library lies the Berkeley Reading Room, which contains the rest of Berkeley’s extensive literary collection and stands as the preferred destination for those wishing to absorb knowledge in a serene environment. It offers an unparalleled quiet space for study and contemplation on campus.
Both facilities are open 24/7 and accessible with a student ID. While books are available for unrestricted use on-site, removal requires authorization from the Head of College’s Office.
Swiss Room
The Swiss Room, a sixteenth-century transplant from Switzerland, is situated just above the balcony in the Dining Hall. Cozy and inviting, this exquisite all-wood room brims with history and ambiance. Due to its invaluable nature, it is reserved solely for preservation purposes by Berkeley Fellows.
Seminar Room(s)
Charles A. Walker Seminar Room, next to the Reading Room, offers a beautiful setting for Fellows to teach classes or for student groups to gather. It has been refurbished to honor the legacy of the past Master, Charles A. Walker.
North Court Seminar Room, situated near the Barn, is available for reservation through the College Office for meetings or video conferences.
Common Rooms
Berkeley College has two common rooms that may be used for studying, watching a movie or simply relaxing.
Charles Seymour Common Room overlooks the south courtyard and is located adjacent to the Dining Hall. The Common Room is always bustling with students and features a grand piano.
Thomas Mendenhall Common Room in North Court faces William L. Harkness Hall, and it is conveniently located next to the Bass Library entrance. A peaceful place to relax and unwind and is always open to Berkeley Students. The Mendenhall Room is also home to the Berkeley College Commonplace Society. This space is not available for reservations.
Tunnel
The Tunnel connects North Court and South Court, linking the two grand courts of Berkeley. The Berkeley tunnel’s murals continue to amaze and delight Berkeleyites and non-Berkeleyites alike. What may not be well-known is the story behind the initials “RLC ‘91.” The refer to Rebecca Louise Crane ‘91, who was the artist of the entire procession of knights, ladies, and horses on the northwest side of the tunnel. Her classmates enthusiastically collaborated with her, resulting in a variety of whimsical paintings, including a portrait of Master Robin Winks with the Pink Panther, a life-size painting of a Berkeley student (dressed in jeans) leaning by a painted partially open door at the corner of the wall from South to North (down the corridor from Master Winks’ portrait), and a cartoon of Bart Simpson. As astounding as the murals are, equally astounding is the fact that the constructions crews took great care to preserve them in their entirety during the renovation of the College in 1998. Berkeley students may continue to create or restore murals with permission from the Berkeley College Office.
Art Gallery
Located off the Berkeley Buttery, this small gallery provides high visibility for students’ artwork.
The Berkeley College Art Gallery serves as a cultural hub within Berkeley, it is a cozy visual art space showcasing a variety of artworks from Berkeley student artists. An intimate space that encourages reflection and artistic appreciation among the Berkeley community, the Art Gallery features rotating exhibitions and provides opportunities for students to engage directly with artists. The space is designed not only as a functional space for exhibitions and events but a cozy location to relax and study too.
The Berkeley Art Gallery is available for use by Berkeley students only. For more information and permission for gallery use, please contact Naomi DiGioia (naomi.digioia@yale.edu ).
The Barn
The Barn houses Berkeley College’s complimentary computer cluster, accessible on a first-come, first-served basis. This area serves as a collaborative learning environment, equipped with numerous whiteboard tables for student use.
Roost
The Roost at Berkeley is a wellness sanctuary available 24/7 for de-stressing. Enter the Roost Right Wing to enjoy the massage chairs, or spread out a yoga mat to harmonize your mind, body, and spirit. Alternatively, you may choose to nestle into a bean bag chair and immerse yourself in a book from the Berkeley Book Exchange shelf, situated just outside the Roost, or partake in a puzzle or board game in the Roost Left Wing. As a sanctuary free from screens and stress, homework is discouraged – this area is intended for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Coop
Berkeley’s outdoor wellness space, “The Coop,” is a charming sanctuary nestled in south court beside entryway F. Access “The Coop” via the garden gate adjacent to the Kroon Garden (a fruit and herb haven meticulously cared for by our South Court resident Fellow, Camille Thomasson). Unwind in a swing egg chair and savor the tranquility of the garden devoted to relaxation.
