Nearby Recreation – South Residential Area

1838 Chicago Fitness Room

The 1838 Chicago fitness room has the same high-quality equipment as the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion without the long walk so you can save your steps (and time) for the treadmills, ellipticals, and stairmasters. Residents of the South Area can use their Wildcard to enter 1838 Chicago’s front door and head down to the basement. The vibe is super chill. You don’t have to worry about power lifters trying to outdo each other. You also don’t have to wait for equipment. While popular, the 1838 Chicago fitness room is never overcrowded, in part because it’s open 24/7, which allows residents to get in some exercise when their schedule permits or the spirit moves them. Pro tip: The fitness room has a great mirrored area for anyone working on dance moves.

Shepard Communal Kitchen

Are you into Top Chef, Iron Chef, or Chopped? Then you’ll love the Shepard Communal Kitchen, which is a unique South Area amenity. It regularly hosts cooking classes because it has a 6-burner (induction cooking for safety) demonstration range at the head of a 14-person table. South Area residents often use the kitchen for their own dinner parties, birthday celebrations, and more because it can accommodate more people for collaborative cooking and group dining than other spaces.

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Allison Lounge & Game Room

If you’re early to meet friends for a meal in the Allison Dining Commons or you’ve finished eating and want to keep hanging out without sitting around, head upstairs to the Allison Lounge & Game Room for some TV, pool, foosball, or ping pong. You can check out equipment at the South Area Desk at Allison, which is on your way in. Pro tip: There is also an electric Kawai piano in the Allison Lounge. If you bring headphones, you can block out the noise of people playing games and have some privacy if you’re practicing a new piece.

Shepard Meditation Room

Open 24/7 to South Area residents, the Meditation Room in the Shepard Engagement Center is a place for a spontaneous moment of reflection or a scheduled prayer. Designed so students can practice as they see fit, there are shoe cubbies, an ablution room for ritual cleansing, and other features to support students’ in their individualized practices.