Photo by: Katie Mastroianni
Chancellor Coombe is to be presented next week with a multi-million dollar proposal for the renovation of Driscoll Center to make it more student friendly.
“We want to make Driscoll a place that will draw people in and hold them here,” said John Nichols, director of Driscoll Center.
In July DU began working with university architect Mark Rodgers on remodeling plans that address spatial changes to accommodate and foster student activity in the building. Driscoll houses the Sidelines Pub, Jazzman’s Café, the Driscoll Commons cafeteria, student media offices, the DU bookstore and several student-oriented administrative departments, including the Department of Housing and Student Life and the Learning Effectiveness Program as well as the Career Center.
The project, which is expected to cost $7-8 million, would begin construction in a year at the very earliest according to Rodgers. Specific figures for the cost of renovation are unknown due to the variety of options put forth in the proposal as well as the need to check the conditions of mechanical and electrical systems in the building.
The renovation is designed to complement the new Penrose Library project, which is currently in the fundraising process.
The Penrose project is focused on the academic aspect of the DU campus, while the Driscoll project is designed to reflect student and campus life, according to Nichols.
In order to ensure compatibility between the projects, DU brought on board architect firm Shepley and Bulfinch, responsible for the Penrose remodel.
The reconstruction of Driscoll to be a hub for student activity is part of a broader plan to unite the campus, Nichols said.
“What we have really been missing is a heart of the campus,” said AUSA President Joey Ham. “There are segmented communities popping up, and we need a place where people of different majors, ethnicities and religions can come together.”
Nichols described his vision for the new center as a “campus family room,” where students feel they have a stake in the building’s ownership.
Creating more recreational space and a higher degree of transparency throughout the building are key factors in the attempt to make the building a popular meeting place, Nichols said.
The glass-enclosed bridge over East Evans Avenue, which connects Driscoll North with Driscoll South, has traditionally been used as a passage for students across the busy street below. The remodel may incorporate space for students to gather by having couches and other furniture available.
“I pretty much only walk through the bridge when it’s really cold outside,” said senior Lauren Graham.
Rodgers discussed his work on moving components of the building around to make room for “prime real estate” on the bridge. Options included replacing the bathrooms and telephones in Driscoll North with common space for students as well as relocating offices.
With the completion of the College of Education this summer the Learning Effectiveness Program and the Disability Services Program will both move out of Driscoll, creating more space for student use.
The removal of walls and replacement of wood doors with glass doors are also possible options to foster student engagement in Driscoll.
“Right now if someone walks through Driscoll and there is an event in the Driscoll Ballroom they might miss it because they can’t see it,” said Nichols.
Aesthetic changes to the structure are also part of the plan to increase social activity in the building. Proposals involve having the architecture reflect more of the surrounding environment.
The remodel is expected to follow the trend of “greener” buildings on campus by using recyclable materials and focusing on energy efficiency.
Deciding how to remodel Driscoll to meet the needs of the student body has relied heavily on student feedback. Focus groups with current occupants of the building, the AUSA Senate and a variety of student organizations have generated numerous options, Nichols said.
During the fall quarter, the AUSA Senate surveyed 1,100 students to see if their needs were being met by Driscoll and how it could be improved.
Nichols hopes student involvement will continue into the construction process if the plan moves forward, making it an effective educational opportunity.
“Let’s really make this something more than just about a building,” said Nichols.
The Driscoll renovation proposal has a long way to go before being finalized, Nichols said. It must be approved by Chancellor Coombe as well as the DU Board of Trustees. If this occurs, the issue of funding for the building will be addressed.
