Outlook

New! Improved! Campus center readied for fall semester

Monday, October 11, 2004

Atwood Memorial Center — at the center of campus and the center of campus life — was bigger and better when classes resumed this fall.

SCSU students had earlier authorized remodeling some areas of the center and adding 15,900 square feet of space. The $5.1 million project is funded by a student-approved bond issue that will be repaid with student user fees.

Students sent five representatives to participate with faculty and staff in all design and bidding decisions for work on the Center. The students who joined the committee stayed with the project from start to finish, to the astonishment of GLT Architects. It’s been their experience that students on a building committee show up for one meeting, they said, “and you never see them again.”

Accessibility and connection were important to the project’s planners. “The students ... wanted it to be a window to the campus,” said Atwood Director Margaret Vos. The architects’ use of considerable glass has resulted in panoramic views of the west side of campus as well as downtown St. Cloud.

The “new, improved” Atwood Memorial Center will be formally introduced to the community with a special event later this fall.

The 13,000-14,000 people who come through the Atwood Memorial Center each weekday can be pleased with the results, said Vos. “Under budget. On time. And everything we hoped for!” The campus community and visitors are finding the following changes:

• Conference room: Holds 300; attached catering kitchen; state-of-the-art technology and sound system; panoramic view of campus
• Ballroom: Renovated with new ceiling and enhanced sound system, lighting and technology
• Convenience store: Designed for “grab and go” traffic; open seven days a week; longer hours
• Bank: Expanded space for the campus community’s convenience
• More: Multicultural center three times the size of the original; new complex of six student organization offices; additional dining space on the lower level; seven
  new meeting rooms; new computer lab for everyone’s use; new office for the copying center; and new information desk.

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