While several campus organizations are still scrambling for what little space is left in Talley Student Center, the design of a new student center is now on the horizon.
According to Tom Skolnicki, the University landscape architect and project manager, the architecture firm Holzman Moss has been chosen to design the new center.
“Hopefully a contract will be signed in a matter of weeks. The firm has been approved by the Board of Trustees,” he said, “We are working on development of the scope of the project.”
As the firm determines the needs of the new student center, it will also include nearby Price Hall and the NCSU Bookstore in its assessment. The firm will also decide whether to renovate the old buildings or to tear them down and start from scratch.
“The firm is just looking at master planning and not designing yet,” Skolnicki said. “They’re looking at the amount of space that will be needed.”
According to Sara Yasin, a junior in textile and apparel management and president of the Talley Board of Directors, the University chose Holzman Moss primarily for its creativity with renovation and construction of multi-purpose buildings and its use of Green Design, which involves ecologically-friendly engineering and construction.
She said both Holzman Moss and the University will take into account the opinions of students and staff once designing has begun.
According to Skolnicki, a steering group comprised of students and staff that will represent the campus’ interests has already been elected.
“There will be lots of workshops that will provide opportunities to give the campus input,” Skolnicki said.
With a contract yet to be signed, the cost and the start date for this project are still unknown, leaving student organizations with little choice but to make do with what space Talley Student Center has left to offer.
Shannon Johnson, the Women’s Center director, petitioned for space in Talley last December along with two other groups.
According to Johnson, the Talley Board of Directors reached a compromise with the Women’s Center in which the requested room, 3121, will be designated solely for Women’s Center use between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This change does not take effect until August when the final reservations of the room have ended.
“Space is such a premium on this campus,” Johnson noted.
Robin Harris, the dance program director, has reached the same conclusion as the board has allowed them to move the program’s small two-person office to a larger room down the hall this August. Although ideally, Harris said she would like to have an entire studio, she is aware of the very limited space in the current student center and now only hopes to get access to a portable wall to separate the new office.
The third proposal for establishing a Mail Boxes Etc. in Talley given by Don Patty, business and planning director of Talley, is still under consideration by the Board of Directors. According to Yasin, the Board must not only find a place to put the store in Talley but must also consider that renovation plans for the student center will soon be under way.
