In response to requests for a revised design, architects from the firm Public presented new schematic designs for Student Center expansion at the Building Advisory Committee meeting on April 23.
The “scheme II” design of Student Center was presented at previous BAC meetings, but public input prompted architects to consider and present three additional schemes.
At a town hall meeting held on April 6, students suggested the preservation of Student Center’s unique “village” feel to contrast the more open and less “private” Price Center.
“The main thing was there was a feeling among the students that they wanted something that would respect the history of the center,” said Jim Brown, an architect with Public.
Scheme II featured two open courtyards, but with a large, open space that would extend toward the grassy “Hump.” This plan suggested a more open space in Student Center and would eliminate its dark and cluttered aesthetics, Brown said.
Of the three new schemes presented, the majority of the BAC expressed interest in scheme B, which features two separate courtyards, a student lounge located in the middle of Student Center, and the relocation and reconstruction of the General Store westward, near the Hump.
“I think scheme B has a lot of potential for design,” Brown said. “I’m very excited about the building that might start to invite the Hump to the composition [of the center].”
Members present were most interested with a central student lounge in scheme B, which includes glass walls to maintain sunlight and heat.
In addition to the presentation of the three schemes, the main topics of discussion were the problems associated with demolishing buildings to construct new ones, various open space suggestions and the availability of light along the walkways of the center.
“There’s a whole realm of configurations; this is only the beginning,” Jim Brown said.
Director of University Centers Gary Ratcliff recommended as little demolition as possible when considering the expansion, noting that the UCSD Guardian office, newly renovated this year, would have to be demolished and rebuilt if scheme II was adopted.
“Construction costs are increasing much higher than we had forecasted, and less demolition means less money [to spend on construction],” Ratcliff said. “We could be frugal and yet address all the students’ needs.”
Some expressed concern, however, with the new General Store being constructed toward the west of the Student Center, saying that it intruded into the Hump and the visibility of the Crafts Center.
Earl Warren College Representative and BAC member Aaron Sheinbein expressed concern about relocation of the current KSDT radio and SRTV stations in the suggested plans. He stated that both groups desire a rearrangement of their current situation, and that their new spaces need to be more efficiently reconfigured.
Sheinbein also mentioned that attention should be paid to stairway access, noting that current stairways are dark and difficult to find.
Groundwork Books representative and BAC member Casey Kohler noted the importance of expressing public voice over the various design options.
“We have to look at preserving the integrity and history of the Student Center,” Kohler said. “… I have to express my voice in what the students ask for. There’s a lot of history that people don’t want to see leave, and that’s important.”
BAC member Max Harrington, however, was concerned with the BAC’s sudden move to another design scheme and proposed a site visit where issues can be discussed with tenants of the Student Center.
“We have something brand new that we’ve never considered before,” Harrington said. “I just don’t feel comfortable moving forward with that without making sure [the BAC has] the input of everyone in the Student Center.”
Despite the overall consensus on scheme B, Brown noted that the final decision for a design will not be made for the next two to four weeks, after further BAC meetings.
The next steps of the planning are scheduled for the coming weeks, including a sunlight availability analysis of Student Center and a BAC site visit to help settle on which scheme to undertake.
