Spring Break
University architect details new student center plans
Courtney Day
Issue date: 10/27/09 Section: Front Page
A change in building plans for the Bicentennial Student Center (BSC) would decrease the estimated project cost by more than 35 percent, saving the university approximately $42 million, said Bob Keller, university architect, at the Associated Student Government (ASG) meeting Tuesday.
Keller said the original plan to tear down Gaskill, Culler and Rowan halls to build the BSC would cost $120.4 million. The new plan, he said, is to incorporate the three existing buildings into the new center. This plan would cost $77.7 million.
The three existing halls would be renovated, and changes would be made both inside and out. The buildings would be connected by new facilities.
"I know that Gaskill is not the most attractive building in the world," Keller said. "There will be some changes."
Keller said the change in plans would result in a building of almost the exact same square footage as the original design, approximately 205,000 sq. feet.
"We will still be creating the same kinds of spaces," Keller said.
Those spaces, he said, will include study and group project space, meeting and office space for student organizations, food service space, recreational space and a theater.
No provision for parking is made in the BSC plans. Keller said parking at Shriver Center is an option, however, parking there is limited. He also said the plan would eliminate the parking lot currently at Gaskill Hall. Keller said the university wants to encourage walking as opposed to driving on campus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
wow
posted 10/28/09 @ 7:54 PM EST
So it's the old bait and switch. When the university architect presented the original plan to Senate, he said it would cost $80m, but John Skillings said he thought it would cost more than $100,000,000. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 10/28/09 @ 8:01 PM EST
Now it's only $77.7 million that the university should be spending on education and personnel rather than new buildings. Wonderful.
N.
posted 10/28/09 @ 8:19 PM EST
Excellent plan. Kudos to Miami for finding a cost saving alternative.
Juanita
posted 10/30/09 @ 8:42 AM EST
More evidence that the Roudebush crowd does not care one twit about undergraduate education. It's all about making Miami the social gathering place of the midwest. (Continued…)
walker
posted 10/30/09 @ 8:24 PM EST
Unfortunately, all universities are building "Club Med" social and recreational facilities. If they don't, they lose the part of the applicant pool (which is substantial) which chooses a college where you can get an education and can enjoy such amenities. (Continued…)
Joey
posted 10/31/09 @ 12:02 PM EST
Great job to the University and to ASG for moving forward with these plans, even in tough times. It's a hard choice, but it is the right choice.
Top students are increasingly choosing other schools, in large part because social and study space is so lacking at Miami. (Continued…)
chris
posted 11/01/09 @ 8:23 PM EST
Top students are increasingly choosing other schools, in large part because they get more scholarship money from those schools than Miami. Look at the Board of Trustees minutes for Sept. (Continued…)
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