Members of several University departments met Monday to discuss the Student Life Master Plan Project. The project is a collaborative effort between multiple aspects of the University and an outside architectural firm to make major renovations to buildings where student life is currently centered to redistribute available space and plan additions to current buildings.
Participants in the project meeting included members from several University departments such as the career center, bookstore, InterResidence Council, student affairs, Student Government and the University treasury.
“[One] goal is to put things that generate a lot of traffic into Talley,” Richard Hayes, director of the University bookstore, said. “There is a convenience issue for the students to keep in mind so they can shop for everything in one place.”
The estimated price tag at this point is approximately $62.5 million in total project costs for Phase I and possibly another $57 million for Phase II, according to Tom Skolnicki, University landscape architect.
Cathy Hart, University treasurer, said the project’s total funding has not been determined yet, but student fees are expected to cover a majority of the expense. She also said another source of funding could possibly come from a naming option where companies will be able to donate money in exchange for having their name placed on part of the finished renovation.
“It is a cost that the students will have to bear,” Hart said. “The burden of a student center does fall on the students.”
Diana Douglas, Student Centers president, said the current projection includes the prospect of a large pedestrian bridge beginning from the area near Reynolds Stadium and stretching towards the academic buildings. The bridge would serve as a venue for live music and possibly midnight movie showings among other activities.
According to Skolnicki, additional lounge and recreation space in Talley is a top priority and the project currently allots for 91,000 square feet of new space.
“Students say they often go to the gym and then want to study in Talley afterwards, so they would really like to see more lounge areas,” Douglas said.
Expanded dining options for Talley is another prospective change for the center.
“Students have requested different dining options,” Douglas said. “Students who are vegetarians would like to see a salad bar.”
Carol Schroeder, director of the Career Center, said the Career Center may make a move into Talley with the current plan. The move would give the center 9,000 square feet of space, nearly doubling the current 4,800 square feet of space allocated to the center in Pullen Hall.
“Currently, we are scrambling to find places for employers to meet with students and we are having to place people all over campus in rooms where we can’t be sure that everything works.” Schroeder said. “New meeting rooms will give us the needed space.”
“There is a lot of administration that needs to come along with some of these moves that may not allow some of the moves to occur,” Art White, director of university dining and associate vice chancellor of student affairs, said.
Evelyn Reiman, associate vice chancellor of Student Affairs, said that considering major changes to Talley have not taken place for several decades, the structure has definitely stood the test of time.
“[Now] we are trying to deliver something of high quality that students will be proud of and use,” Reiman said.