New student hub ready for the masses

It's one of the most enormous, ambitious and eagerly-awaited projects Penn ever took on. And after 15 years -- filled with dozens of donors, numerous design overhauls, massive construction crews and a hefty $87.5 million price tag -- the job is finished. Perelman Quadrangle is ready to fling its freshly polished doors wide open for the campus. Administrators expect the new facilities will serve as a hub for student activities, shifting the center of campus back toward the eastern end of Locust Walk. The new facility is named for Ronald Perelman, a Penn Trustee and Wharton alumnus, who donated $20 million to the project. The Quadrangle centers around Houston Hall -- the nation's oldest student union, built in 1896 -- which has been closed for renovations since May 1998. It also includes Logan and Williams halls, Irvine Auditorium and the new Wynn Common, a courtyard area in between the buildings. Houston Hall, which is nearly finished, will provide students with new facilities including eateries, theaters, meeting rooms and offices for Penn's student groups. The entire building, with the exception of the soon-to-be-opened food court, is open for business. And administrators are already predicting that the complex will become a student hotspot. "It will become a living room for students on our campus," Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said. The third floor of Houston Hall provides space for the Student Union and 20 different organizations, as well as lockers for student groups to use as storage. There are four meeting rooms on that level, and two conference rooms in the Student Union suites. The second level will house Penn's six student government branches, in addition to the Office of Student Life and the Perelman Quadrangle Administration offices. Of the meeting rooms, the Ben Franklin Room has the largest capacity, holding up to 90 people. All the meeting rooms have been wired for Internet use. Students will also find two of the building's architectural high points on the second floor. First, the complex's black-box theater allows the stage to be moved to any location in the room. And the grand staircase has been restored to its 1896 condition after one half was removed in the 1960s due to disrepair. "The woodwork has been phenomenal," said Tom Hauber, director of Perelman Quad. "This was all done through pictures and measurements. There were no drawings showing how to do it." The first floor, covered in five areas by Italian marble, houses the lobby, Bodek Lounge -- currently occupied by the New Student Orientation event CUPID -- and the Bistro, a sit-down and takeout restaurant that can seat 120. Students will be able to purchase soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts. The Bistro is expected to open next Thursday. The ground level of Houston Hall will house Expressions at Penn, a Penn gift shop, and a game room. Also located on that floor is the Hall of Flags -- a study area and network event movie theater -- and the Market, a food court. The Market will be comprised of five sections, including a grill, a pasta/pizza restaurant, a deli, a salad bar and a global cuisine section. Students can dine there later this month. With the final construction on Houston Hall currently underway, Perelman Quad will be holding its opening ceremonies from September 14 through September 21. The Social Planning and Events Committee is sponsoring a series of events, including the return of late-night celebrity Bill Maher and a performance by popular indie band Guster. And Perelman himself will rock out with the band on the drums. In a recent e-mail statement, Perelman, who made a name for himself as longtime Revlon chief executive, expressed his hopes for the facility. "The dedication of the Perelman Quadrangle is a happy event for all of us. We hope it becomes the heart of the campus and a crucible for fostering all that is good in university life," he wrote. About $40 million of the Perelman Quadrangle funding was gathered through private donations, and 47 spots in the complex bear the names of major contributors