The Science Commons occupies much of the second floor of the recently completed Sanford S. Atwood Chemistry Center addition. Accentuated by the 4-story atrium, the newest incarnation of the chemistry library is an open space full of glass and light. In the words of David Lynn, the out-going Chair of the Chemistry department, “this is a place made to exchange, nurture and grow ideas.” 
The Science Commons houses a small chemistry collection of about 1400 titles, a popular reading collection (McNaughton) containing just over 100 titles at the time of writing, and print journals in chemistry, computer science, environmental science, mathematics, and physics. The print journal collection currently has over 70 titles, including popular journals and magazines such as Science, Wired, Scientific American, Popular Science, New Scientist, Discover, and American Scientist.
Also on the second floor of the Atwood addition are the Highland Bakery Coffee Lab; an engaged learning classroom tentatively named the ATOMIC [Advancing the Teaching Of Matter through Innovation and Collaboration] classroom, with room for 99 students; two conference rooms (bookable in 25Live), with seating for 14 or 16 people at the table; and seven individual study carrels.
The most popular seating areas are the tables outside Highland Bakery, both those in the mini-atrium overlooking Dowman Drive and those under the abstract paintings by Emory alumnus Brendan O’Connell; the lounge chairs in the book nook; and the pull-apart tables near the entrance facing Cherry L. Emerson Hall. As the first exams of the semester approached, students filled the Science Commons, discovering all of the different study spaces it has to offer. This was also a great opportunity for the general and organic chemistry lecturers to leave their offices and conduct study sessions for a dozen or more students at a time in front of the white boards hung on the wall.
The Science Commons is available during regular building hours: Monday through Friday, 7 am to 7 pm. The Science Commons Library Service Desk is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. The building and service desk are closed on weekends. After hours card access is available to graduate students and faculty with research labs in Atwood or the adjoining Cherry L. Emerson Hall.
More information about and pictures of the Science Commons and the new Atwood addition are available here: