Construction of the $60 million campus center project isn't expected to begin until March 2000 but behind-the-scenes work is moving ahead smoothly, according to Associate Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance Laverne Cawthorne. The schematic design is completed and now architects Kallmann, McKinnell and Wood are working on the design development phase, which creates a more detailed plan for the new building.
The campus center, to be located at the east end of the science
building facing the harbor and Neponset River, will likely house
student affairs, enrollment management, student services, student
organizations, and health services. In addition, the building will
boast study and recreational facilities, a conference center, an
alumni room, the bookstore, and dining facilities.
The building will be joined to the rest of the campus through the
catwalk structure but will not abut any existing building. Cawthorne
has enjoyed watching the building plans take shape. "You can
appreciate the way [the architects] translate what you want
into an actual structure," she said.
Advisory committees are still tying up the final details on which
departments will be housed where. Cawthorne expects the plans and
model, when finalized, to be placed on display for the campus
community to study sometime during the spring semester.
In the meantime, a retro-fit committee, comprised of representatives
from deans offices, faculty, and staff, is starting its work to
determine what to do with the space left behind once the selected
departments have moved into their new home. Committee members are
reportedly taking the entire campus into consideration and are hoping
to group complementary departments together. "It gives the
institution a chance to say, what do we really want," said Cawthorne.