Architects, construction officials and members of the user committee presented a project update for the Memorial Student Center renovation that included relocation assignments for the remaining MSC organizations in an open forum Wednesday.
Choral Activities will move to the basement level of the Commons and the Wimberly Building in downtown Bryan was posed as a pending assignment for the MSCC Forsyth Galleries.
Stephanie Burns kicked off her term as the 2009-2010 MSCC president by announcing plans for the Countdown to Construction.
A ceremony will commemorate the building’s history and those who have contributed in the MSC 6 p.m., May 1. Texas A&M President Elsa A. Murano will speak, along with former MSC President Denis Davis-Mayfield and MSC Director Luke Altendorf. A yell practice will follow in Rudder Plaza at 7:15, and a 1950’s style commemorative dinner will be served at 7:3o in the 12th Man Café.
Vance Cheatham, associate principal for Perkins+Will Architects juxtaposed sketches for interior and exterior redesigns with photos dating back to the opening of the MSC in 1951.
Major points of focus for the open forum were dining facilities, bike capacity and entryways.
“We want dining to really be something that engages the student body,” Cheatham said.
The updates, he said, will feature delicious dining experiences.
David Riddle fielded questions on dining options having served seven days on the job as executive director of Dining Services.
“The architects are looking for us to have some very general plans, so they can do the right setup,” he said.
He said he will travel to other campuses to see the best concepts.
“The great part about it is, it’s a blank slate. We can make it as great as we want to make it,” Riddle said.
She said there will be jobs available after the renovation, because they expect a larger group of consumers, such as faculty and staff.
“We’re getting rid of all bikes on campus,” Cheatham said jokingly in response to concerns of bike rack availability post renovation.
He said they are looking at options in different countries and they will have high profile bike rakes surrounded by planters to prevent the structure from being an eye sore.
Cheatham said the architects had major plans for renovating the entryways to better fit the building.
“The building is pedestrian,” he said. “It doesn’t grab your attention.”
He said you walk in and see an ATM machine.
“It does not really convey the message that the MSC needs to convey,” Cheatham said. “This MSC really needs to face the student body, engage the student body and invite them in.”
Plans were presented for the 12th Man Hall of Honor that will be a focus point of the MSC after the renovation.
Cheatham said they tried to figure out what makes the MSC special and “memorial” always came up during focus groups.
The Hall of Honor will have 12 limestone columns to represent the 12th Man, he said.
Cheatham said the architect’s theme for the renovation was to have the MSC serve as a lantern at the center of campus
Eric Beckham took the stage as the incoming student body president and said that during the renovation, the tradition of the MSC will remain the same.
“The spirit of what really matters will be there for years and years to come,” he said.