Maroon

              THE MAROON Vol. 88, NO. 7 ONLINE EDITION AT LOYOI-AMAROON.COM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2010 University planning details of new student center By SAM WINSTROM Assistant News Editor Students might want to start saying their final goodbyes to the Danna Student Center. Demolition and reconstruction of Loyola's student center could start as soon as the next academic year according to University President the Rev. Kevin J. Wildes, S J. The reconstruction of the Danna Student Center into a new combined residence all and student center is a part of Loyola's master plan for construction on campus. Cissy Petty, vice president for Student Affairs and associate provost, said that once the board of trustees approves a bond issuance construction on the new student center and residence hall can begin. "We are currently confirming space allocations and beginning to consider design concepts," Petty said. Wildes said that if things go well we could see the final design for the new student center late in the spring semester. "I'd like to be able to get this to a real design by the end of this academic year," Wildes said. The goal of the new student center and residence hall is to increase occupancy on campus and provide a distinct housing option for upper class residents, said Petty. According to Petty, the ability to house more students on campus would benefit Loyola greatly. "Research indicates New Student Center By BRITTANY HOLMES Contributing Writer Plans are already in progress for the new student center, although nothing has been finalized yet. The goal of the new and improved Danna Center is to "build an urban [dace," said Henry Munoz, architect working on the plans for the new building. According to the architects, Loyola's campus will be equipped with the latest technology and will compete with high-tech campuses of other universities by the fall of 2013. The University hired Kell Munoz- Mathes Brierre the architectural firm to design the new student center and Monroe Hall. "The heart of campus will no longer be a three story high building. It will be a tall multistory atrium that will connect the quads," said Goef Edwards, another architect from Kell Munoz-Mathes Brierre. The architects will add residence halls to the student center. The residence halls will start oil the fourth floor of the Danna Center and continue for an undecided number of stories. "They will be apartment style residential units with suitemates," Edwards said. According to Munoz, the remodeled Danna Center will be an opportunity to design a state of the art building. The concept of the redevelopment is not to evolve the school into something unrecognizable, but only to enhance the university. The concept, reinforces the unique identity of Loyola Munoz said. According to the architects, Loyola has out-of-date structures and buildings that do not get constructed anymore and they plan to fix that problem. The improved Danna Center will incorporate the unique style of the other buildings, but will have modem features in the inside. A survey taken in an SGA meeting showed most students in the room wanted By CARL HARRISON The Maroon With deconstiuction of the Danna Center starting in May, students feel left in the dark and are leery of the immediate affects of Loyola's master plan. Economics freshman Charlotte McCray is highly opposed to deconstruction of the Danna Center. "I like it as is and I think it's a waste of resources. It's also a bummer that I won't be able to use the new center for most of my time at Loyola," McCray said. At the same time that the Monroe Hall renovations start, construction is scheduled to begin on a new residence hall and student center in the place of the Danna Center. "If they think it's necessary for us to go without the Danna Center, the administration should let us know in a more clear way what their plans are," said Mary Mikuls, political science sophomore. "I had no idea they were tearing the Danna Center down." According to the University Master Plan currently there is an over abundance of non-desirable space located in the basement of the Danna Center. The current building's large footprint creates an inefficient floor-to-area ratio and there is no room to grow. There are also life-safety issues regarding the amount of emergency exits. Ken Munoz of Mathers Brierre Architects was selected to design the new building. At a recent forum designed to draw student input in the new design, Munoz said, "What we want to do is draw out what's unique about Loyola." The current plans are to be an urban high-rise style building. The first three floors will be used for the student center and the next five floors as a residence hall. Plans have also been made to connect the Residential Quad to the Peace Quad. "I like the idea of deconstruction of see PLANS, page 5 see CENTER, page 6 see REACTION, page 6 2010~201l COfIAMENCEMENT CEREAAONY BEEN MOVED TO THE ERNEST N. AAorial Covention Center, see page 3 FOR DETAILS A LOYOLA TRADITION SINCE 1923 • "FOR A G REATER LOYOLA" MAROON DIRECTORY; CRIME WATCH, page 2 | SPORTS, page 7 \ LIFE AND TIMES, page 10 | EDITORIAL, page 14 | NEWS TIPS: 865 3535