2008 Woodie Awards
Crooker remodeling nears completion
Audrey Leon
Issue date: 1/29/08 Section: Front Page
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Over the semester break, the Student Government Association, Student Activities Board, Council of Clubs and Campus Ministry found new homes on the first floor of Crooker Center.
Additionally, glass windows and doors were installed on the east wall, where the old bookstore was located.
"[The glass wall] brings more natural light into the building and adds a whole new dimension," Rose said. "Anyone would appreciate the architectural change."
Rose credits Matt Prasifka, director of campus life, and Patricia McKinley, director of career services with helping his office coordinate construction efforts.
"Everyone has been great," Rose said. "It was a hard semester for [Crooker occupants], and they have been patient, especially with all the noise."
The primary goal of the renovation is to remodel and reconfigure Crooker's existing space, Rose said.
"We had a lot of large rooms, like the alumni lounge and old bookstore, which were not being utilized to maximum potential," he said.
The reconfiguration allows for student-oriented services to come together in one building. These services will comprise the Mendenhall Achievement Center, which will be located inside Crooker.
Rose said that he believes this unification will be of great benefit to UST students.
"It will be a true student center," he said.
The renovation efforts will also bring the Learning and Writing Center out of Doherty Library's basement and into Crooker's second floor.
One major phase of the renovation, scheduled to be completed by June 2008, includes remodeling the old Campus Ministry and SGA offices into a new student counseling area.
There are also plans to install windows in some of the offices on Crooker's second floor to align with windows on the east side, with a canopy to be placed overhead.