Houston Hall Welcome Desk
Our Welcome Desk is your go-to spot for assistance, resources, and guidance at the University of Pennsylvania located in the lobby of Houston Hall.
Most doors to Houston Hall are locked for security, but students can swipe their Penn IDs to enter the building from the north and south main entrances.
Whether you need help finding an event location, booking a space, or learning about our programs, our friendly staff is here to support you. Visit us at Houston Hall for more information or email our Coordinator, Mo Wood at mowood@upenn.edu.
Most doors to Houston Hall are locked for security, but students can swipe their Penn IDs to enter the building from the north and south main entrances.
Whether you need help finding an event location, booking a space, or learning about our programs, our friendly staff is here to support you. Visit us at Houston Hall for more information or email our Coordinator, Mo Wood at mowood@upenn.edu.
Houston Market
On the ground floor basement level of Houston Hall, the Houston Market offers students a diverse campus dining hall that includes a coffee shop and several unique food court style dining options. There are also vending machines located on the same floor.
Learn more about the Houston Market, dining options and hours here:
Learn more about the Houston Market, dining options and hours here:
Williams Cafe
During the academic year, you can find friendly faces and support your peers by grabbing a beverage and a pastry from campus’ own student-run coffee shop, Williams Cafe.
You can find them located in the building directly west of Houston Hall at:
Williams Hall
255 S 36th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Open:
Monday – Friday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Weekends, Holidays: Closed
For more information on the business, the team, and how to apply, please see their website:
You can find them located in the building directly west of Houston Hall at:
Williams Hall
255 S 36th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Open:
Monday – Friday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Weekends, Holidays: Closed
For more information on the business, the team, and how to apply, please see their website:
Group Study Rooms
Events and Operations maintains reservations for Group Study Rooms through LibCal:
Irvine Piano Practice Rooms
During the academic year, current Penn students can visit the Houston Hall Welcome Desk to exchange their Penn Card temporarily for an access key to Irvine Auditorium. Exit the Penn Commons side of Houston Hall, take a right going east to Irvine Auditorium. You can then use the access key to swipe into the building. There are two sets of elevators and multiple stairwells around Irvine Floor 1, please take any of them down to the Ground Floor and locate the practice rooms in the center of the Ground Floor.
Keys are due back to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk by 10:45pm, 15 minutes prior to Houston Hall closing. If you do not return the access key, this will result in your Penn Card being kept within Houston Hall until you return the key to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk.
There is also a grand piano located in the Game Room of Houston Hall. You are free to play this piano as long as there is no sign or lock indicating an ongoing event, in which case the piano will be temporarily unavailable.
Keys are due back to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk by 10:45pm, 15 minutes prior to Houston Hall closing. If you do not return the access key, this will result in your Penn Card being kept within Houston Hall until you return the key to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk.
There is also a grand piano located in the Game Room of Houston Hall. You are free to play this piano as long as there is no sign or lock indicating an ongoing event, in which case the piano will be temporarily unavailable.
Tutoring
Tutoring Services are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters on Sunday through Thursday evenings in the Houston Market on the ground floor of Houston Hall from 7:45pm to 10:30pm.
Reading Room
The “Reading Room” is a safe place to eat, read or browse the internet between classes. Because the room is open access, it is not designated as a “quiet study space” but will have less noise than our Game Room because there are no television screens or gaming equipment in this room.
The Reading Room is located on the West side of Houston Hall on the first floor.
The Reading Room is located on the West side of Houston Hall on the first floor.
Game Room
The “Game Room” is a community gathering space where you can watch television, play video, board and sports games with friends and hangout in a relaxed space. The Game Room is located on the East side of Houston Hall on the first floor.
Don’t forget to ask the Welcome Desk where the Board Game Shelves are located! You can borrow any of the board games to use within Houston Hall.
Please take good care of them before returning them to the shelves.
Don’t forget to ask the Welcome Desk where the Board Game Shelves are located! You can borrow any of the board games to use within Houston Hall.
Please take good care of them before returning them to the shelves.
Equipment Rental
Around the Game Room, there are various consoles and equipment you can rent out, completely free to use within the Game Room! Approach the Houston Hall Welcome Desk and ask to exchange your Penn Card for the gaming equipment you require.
The only limitations are building hours and if someone has the equipment rented first. We have the following equipment available for rent:
All equipment is due back to the Welcome Desk by 10:45pm. due back to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk by 10:45pm, 15 minutes prior to Houston Hall closing. If you do not return the equipment, this will result in your Penn Card being kept within Houston Hall until you return the equipment to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk.
Please take good care of our items before returning them to us.
The only limitations are building hours and if someone has the equipment rented first. We have the following equipment available for rent:
- Pool Cues (up to 4), Briefcase of Pool Balls, Rack
- Ping Pong Paddles (2-4) and Ping Pong Balls (1-2)
- Chess Pieces
- XBox Controllers (2 per person)
- PlayStation Controllers (2 per person)
- Nintendo Switch Controllers (2 per person)
All equipment is due back to the Welcome Desk by 10:45pm. due back to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk by 10:45pm, 15 minutes prior to Houston Hall closing. If you do not return the equipment, this will result in your Penn Card being kept within Houston Hall until you return the equipment to the Houston Hall Welcome Desk.
Please take good care of our items before returning them to us.