SAS deans praise Perelman Quad

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Robert Rescorla could not be happier about the Perelman Quadrangle proposal. "It think it's a terrific proposal," he said. "It's just what is needed to put undergraduate education at the center." According to a document obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian last week, the Revlon Center concept has been replaced by the Perelman Quad idea. The proposal suggests using College, Logan and Houston Halls and Irvine Auditorium to create a full student center with meeting space and offices for both students and faculty. Rescorla said he is happy about the combination of academic and non-academic services that the Perelman Quad will provide. Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Rosemary Stevens agreed that the Perelman Quad could be beneficial to the University community. "I think the mix of student services and academic departments will work very well," she said. "It sends a strong message about learning and being part of a community." She added that she is happy with the location that was chosen. "It's nice to see Penn celebrating its old buildings and therefore its history," Stevens said. Rescorla said he was never pleased with the proposed location of the Revlon Center, which was slated to be built on the parking lot at 36th and Walnut streets. "All along I was skeptical about the Revlon plan," he said. "I didn't like the idea of separating off student functions from the rest of the campus." He added that "it didn't make sense to build a new building when we have so many wonderful existing buildings we could exploit." The central location of the Perelman Quad will increase the number of encounters between students and faculty members, Rescorla said. He added that the faculty would probably not have ventured over to the Revlon Center. Rescorla said he is confident that the area will be aesthetically pleasing. "This is going to be done in such a way that we will be proud and pleased by the physical creation," he said. Stevens said she "hopes it will be a very electric type of space." Rescorla also said he is excited by the proposed move of the College Office -- which is temporarily located in the Mellon Bank, back into Logan Hall. "Having the College Office right there on the first floor of Logan Hall will make it easier for students to come see us," he said, adding that having the office in the center of campus is "symbolic." He said he thinks it is likely that Logan Hall renovations will be one of the first phases in the construction of the Perelman Quad. "I expect to move two years from now, but it's hard to know," he said. "It might be sooner." Stevens said she thinks Logan Hall is "a very good choice" for the College Office. Several of the humanity departments will also be moving into Logan Hall, she said. "It will be very nice to get our philosophy department back closer to faculty and students," she added. Stevens said Irvine Auditorium is a "fabulous building" and that she is looking forward to its transformation. "I think anyone in Penn who has ever been in Irvine has a very special feeling for it and it will be wonderful for it to be revived and redressed," she said. She added that she wants Houston Hall to remain a student center, for nostalgic purposes. "Many of our alumni remember Houston Hall with affection as a student center," she said. "It's a wonderful building."

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