Section of student center's Phase II to open in August
The portion opening will include dining options and student lounge space.
Published March 5, 2010
A portion of Phase II construction of the student center will be completed and open for students at the beginning of fall semester 2010, about five months earlier than expected.
The main level for Phase II of the student center will open Aug. 18, according to a Student and Auxiliary Services news release. Features available for students will include new dining options and more lounge and study space.
This portion of the student center was not originally scheduled to be finished until spring 2011.
But work on Phase II is ahead of schedule due to the efforts of Campus Facilities Design and Construction department and the student center's contractor, VCC.
"When we realized that construction was continuing ahead of schedule, we began discussions with the contractor to see if we could open the largest public portion of the facility for students when they returned for the fall 2010 semester," said Jeff Zeilenga, assistant vice chancellor for Student Affairs, in the news release.
Upon completion of the main level of Phase II, new features will include additional dining options as well as lounge and study space.
Student and Auxiliary Services spokeswoman Michelle Froese said construction for the other areas in Phase II is on track, and she is hopeful the remainder of the project will be completed within four months or so of the main level opening.
The remaining areas should be completed by December 2010, according to the news release. Amenities in this area will include The Shack restaurant, Mort's Grille, a convenience store, student study and meeting rooms and the Traditions Lounge.
This schedule is still dependent on variables, such as weather, according to the news release.
"This will require some overtime by the contractor, but the project has a contingency for this, and we think it is well worth it for our students and our auxiliary operations," Zeilenga said.
Froese said overtime pay would not affect the cost of completing Phase II construction because there is a contingency built into the construction budget for cases where overtime is warranted.
"It's incredible that we can open this key student facility ahead of schedule," Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs said.
Zeilenga said benefits of opening Phase II early include convenience for students, more food choices and 600 additional seats to meet the demand of the student population.
"Our priority throughout this project has been to serve our students," Zeilenga said. "Working with our contractor, VCC, we are seizing an opportunity to open a large area of the student center much earlier than we anticipated."
3:48 p.m., March 5, 2010
Brandon said:
It's truly sad that new students will never know the greatness that was Brady Commons. They'll never know that they could've had it much better if they were born or graduated HS just a few years earlier. Instead, they have to settle for "New Student Center" or "New Brady", as some arrogantly refer to it, as if it's even comparable to Brady. I was kind of upset when I saw Brady being demolished. That was a great part of my campus experience for almost 2 years here, and it's gone in a matter of a week or 2. Brady Commons was an awesome hangout venue and had a great food court. Truman's Takeout can never compare. At least students coming in this fall will get the promised advantages of new food and dining options a lot earlier. I still can't get over the awkward feeling I get when I walk into the student center, esp. the bookstore area. And having to walk 5 flights of stairs to get the center for student involvement?? whose ludicrous idea was that? Shouldn't it have been elevator accessible from day ONE?