Penn making progress on student center construction

Students afraid they may never see the end of closed buildings, ditches, dirt piles and fences around the future site of the Perelman Quadrangle will be happy to hear that construction on the project is proceeding on schedule. The $69 million Perelman Quad project -- intended to create a new student center in the heart of campus -- originally began in 1996, and is scheduled for completion at the end of next year, administrators announced last week. The quad --Econsisting of Logan, Williams, Houston and College halls and Irvine Auditorium, as well as a landscaped corridor between the buildings -- will be home to more than 250 student organizations. "We anticipate a great deal more student activity," Interim Provost Michael Wachter said last week. He said he expects Perelman Quad to be a "dynamic meeting place." In addition to planting 35-foot trees along the corridor, the University will also build an amphitheater facing east from Logan Hall on which students may sit. On the opposite end, there will be a platform for speakers. The corridor will be converted into a wide plaza with benches and bike racks, known as Wynn Common. It will provide an entrance way to the back of College Hall. Since the interior of College Hall is not being renovated, it remains open all year. Logan Hall, which reopened last semester, is "99 percent complete," according to Omar Blaik, vice president for facilities services and contract management. In Williams Hall, classrooms will remain open while construction takes place on the building's two lower levels. According to Blaik, these floors will contain reading rooms and coffee shops, which will be open late at night. Williams' renovations -- which started over the summer -- are scheduled for completion in March 1999. Heavy construction -- most of which was completed in the summer -- will only take place between 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. for the rest of the year, so as not to interfere with classes, Blaik said. In Houston Hall, which is currently in the last stages of design, construction will begin within the next two months, Blaik said. This will include an expansion of the dining hall in the basement and the addition of more conference rooms for student activities, as well as new retail and food establishments. Several of the dozen Houston Hall basement retail stores -- including Auntie Anne's pretzels and Roses Florist, both now in the 3401 Walnut Street complex -- have relocated to other parts of campus. Most closed. Since completion of the building is scheduled for December 1999, student groups will have to find alternate facilities to hold meetings and activities in the interim. The University has allocated space for several student groups -- including the branches of student government and the student health organizations -- in the Carriage House behind the new Civic House at 3914 Locust Walk. The addition of several new performing arts spaces in the last year -- such as the Iron Gate Theater and the Westminster Building at at 37th and Chestnut streets -- and the opening of Logan Hall, will also help fight the space crunch, Vice Provost of University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said. "Student organizations will have access to more space than I can recall at any time since I've been here," McCoullum said, adding that the University owns other pre-existing facilities such as the Writers House, the Greenfield Intercultural Center and the Women's Center, all of which can be used for activities. Irvine Auditorium, which closed a year ago, is scheduled to open next August. The building's renovations -- which are 30 percent complete -- involve reducing the seating to allow for better acoustics and visual coverage, Blaik said. In addition, a cafe, donated by the class of 1958, will be located on the ground level. Administrators also pointed out that the issues of safety and access to buildings were also addressed. Construction sites were fenced in and signs were posted directing students to usable entrances of Williams Hall, said Brian Barrett, project manager for Facilities Services. Also, officials created a Web site for students and faculty members to pose questions about the project. There is also a site where student groups can schedule space in different buildings, McCoullum said.