Lazerson approves final design plans for Revlon Center

Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson has decided on the final plan for the Revlon Campus Center that he will submit to the University Board of Trustees for its approval. Acting Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said yesterday that the plan, which calls for the construction of two buildings -- a free standing book store and the actual Revlon Campus Center -- is the one Lazerson will recommend. Had Lazerson decided on a plan with a single building with a book store in addition to other student services, a scaling back of space for several programs would have been required. Last week, Lazerson and McCoullum travelled to New York City to meet with Trustees and discuss several different options for the center. The meetings were the last of several that Lazerson held with student leaders, faculty, alumni and Trustees over the past several months. "The more [Lazerson] talked with students, he felt a unitary structure would not provide enough support for student and faculty programs," McCoullum said. According to the Revlon Campus Center Revised Program, both an auditorium and Black Box Theater will be built in the Center. Both facilities will have more than 3,500 square feet of space. Several meeting rooms and a 24- hour study lounge will be included as part of the Center's organization/meeting spaces. A game room, art gallery and food court will also be part of the Center. And a few new elements have been added to the program, McCoullum said. One idea is to possibly have all residential mailboxes located in the Center. This would amount to about 7,000 mailboxes. McCoullum said the centralization of residential mail services could improve delivery service as well as provide students with a common meeting space in the northern part of campus. "This could get people across the great divide of Walnut Street," she said. Another addition is an area set aside for dancing in one of the multipurpose rooms. The total cost for construction of the Revlon Center is expected to be less than $40 million because The Book Store will be financed separately, McCoullum said. The Book Store should be able to support itself once it is open, she added. According to the plans, The Book Store can either be built simultaneously with the Center or it can be phased into the Revlon project, depending on available funding. An exact location for The Book Store site has not yet been determined, but McCoullum said it will probably be in the vicinity of the plaza north of 36th and Walnut Streets. Currently, only $11.5 million has been raised to fund the Center's construction. $10 million has been donated by Revlon Chief Executive Officer and University alumnus Ron Perelman. The other $1.5 million has been pledged by the Classes of 1966 and 1967. McCoullum said, though, until more funds are raised, Lazerson will not make his recommendation to the Trustees. The Office of Alumni Relations is "really doing a full-court press" in trying to find prospective donors, she added. In the next few weeks, Lazerson hopes to convince an interested donor into contributing $5 million to the project, McCoullum said. Lazerson was out of town and unavailable for comment yesterday.

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