The newly renovated north entrance of the L.A. Pittenger Student Center and its new dining facility will reopen just in time for the beginning of the Fall Semester, after more than a year of construction.
Greg Graham, interim director of facilities planning and management at Ball State University, said although most of the renovations to the almost 50-year-old building consisted of upgrading mechanical and electrical systems, there are also many visible changes.
"The first thing they [students] are going to really notice is the new Tally and food service area in the building," Graham said.
Major changes to the Tally, which is a seating and performance area next to the food court, include a ceiling that reaches two stories high and vertical windows, called "clerestory windows," that stream light in through the second story, he said.
Dining Director Jon Lewis said the Student Center's dining facility will also give students something to look forward to: two new food options. Taco Bell and Starbucks were chosen for the Student Center because of an e-mail survey Dining Services conducted three years ago, Lewis said. The two franchises were among student participants' top four choices and were available to Ball State at the time, he said.
The food court will include three healthy food options: hot, prepared-to-order food; a cold food station, such as a salad bar; and grab 'n' go options, similar to a convenience store, he said.
"I think everybody's just going to fall in love," Lewis said of the renovations. "It will rejuvenate the Student Center, as in, it will once again become a destination for students who want to dine and enjoy the restaurant facilities, as well as the rest of the building."
Kevin Kenyon, associate vice president of facilities planning and management, said students would notice a dramatic difference at the Student Center's north entrance as well.
"When you walk into that front entrance, instead of going into a narrow corridor and a hall, it's just very open and light," Kenyon said.
The front lobby, which opens right into the Tally space, houses a modern information desk and airlock doors at its entrance.
Graham said temporary walls would remain up in the area for a few more months.
"Once they're taken out, the whole place is going to be so nice and open," he said.
The stairs outside the north entrance have also been removed to make the building more wheelchair accessible, Graham said.
"A lot of little things have been done that kind of add up to a more modern, up-to-date facility and a more efficient facility," he said.
But all those upgrades are just part of the first phase of construction.
Graham said the west end of the Student Center is still being renovated and isn't expected to be complete until early next semester. The layout of the west end will remain largely unchanged since there isn't anything wrong with it, he said, but what will change are the locations of offices and recreational spaces.
"We want the first floor to become a student destination and activities space, whereas before student spaces were spread throughout the building," Graham said.
Both the Student Government Association and Late Nite are expected to move their offices to the first floor from the second floor and the basement, respectively, in March.
Randy Howard, vice president for business affairs, said the budget for the entire Student Center project is $22.9 million, which is almost $10 million more than the original contract. Although it is difficult to tell, Howard said he estimated the final cost of the project would be "well under" budget by about $1 to $3 million.
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