2008 Woodie Awards
$8m for Driscoll?
Proposal for renovations of student center to be announced next week
Neela Eyunnni
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: News
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"We want to make Driscoll a place that will draw people in and hold them here," said John Nichols, director of Driscoll Center.
In July DU began working with university architect Mark Rodgers on remodeling plans that address spatial changes to accommodate and foster student activity in the building. Driscoll houses the Sidelines Pub, Jazzman's Café, the Driscoll Commons cafeteria, student media offices, the DU bookstore and several student-oriented administrative departments, including the Department of Housing and Student Life and the Learning Effectiveness Program as well as the Career Center.
The project, which is expected to cost $7-8 million, would begin construction in a year at the very earliest according to Rodgers. Specific figures for the cost of renovation are unknown due to the variety of options put forth in the proposal as well as the need to check the conditions of mechanical and electrical systems in the building.
The renovation is designed to complement the new Penrose Library project, which is currently in the fundraising process.
The Penrose project is focused on the academic aspect of the DU campus, while the Driscoll project is designed to reflect student and campus life, according to Nichols.
In order to ensure compatibility between the projects, DU brought on board architect firm Shepley and Bulfinch, responsible for the Penrose remodel.
The reconstruction of Driscoll to be a hub for student activity is part of a broader plan to unite the campus, Nichols said.
"What we have really been missing is a heart of the campus," said AUSA President Joey Ham. "There are segmented communities popping up, and we need a place where people of different majors, ethnicities and religions can come together."
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Leah
posted 2/13/08 @ 8:31 AM MST
Or you could have allotted that money to getting fresh local food that doesn't suck as bad as Sodexho's. The bridge needs to be a community space, but first DU needs to focus on making the dorms livable and the food edible. (Continued…)
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