VCU news

By Jordan Hairr

In the past eight months, Virginia Commonwealth University students have grown accustomed to returning from an academic break to find striking changes at the University Student Commons. For instance, at the start of the fall semester, the Student Commons unveiled new dining venues, including Taco Bell and Aramark’s Provisions on Demand Market. And this spring, students returned to a renovated Student Commons with functional prowess and a new image.

 “We wanted a sense of community to be created,” said Jeremy Schenk, who became director of the University Student Commons & Activities in May 2013 and initiated the two most recent renovations.

From the beginning, Schenk has asked students what they want out of the Student Commons — one of the busiest buildings on campus — and what would make the facility better able to handle their needs. While the fall renovation created more dining options, the latest change focused on the functional aspects of a building that sees 1.7 million annual visitors.

The changes are obvious.

Where before only certain sections of the Student Commons felt new and updated, now the entire building is modern and unified. The subtle lighting near the information desk and the stand-out information pillars on the first floor create an atmosphere of black and gold. Walking into the Student Commons now feels as if you have walked into the heart of school activity and pride.

This was all part of the plan, said interior design lead Sara Lasseter. Lassester derived ideas for the renovation from her own experience as a student in the mid-1990s.

“I know when I went (to VCU), I just always wanted to have a place where I could say ‘OK, this is mine for at least an hour’ in between classes,” Lasseter said.

Both Lasseter and Schenk’s teams stressed having furniture that could create separate spaces to meet varied student needs — from snoozing and studying to eating and lounging — across the building.  

“From a meeting space perspective, we’re booked pretty solidly,” Schenk said. “So as we looked at furniture, we looked at how to create intimate spaces.”

The new furniture, which features functional additions, provided the answer. For instance, 80 percent of the seating allows students easy access to power outlets for charging electronics. Some of the seating near the Student Commons Theater includes heightened backs, which create a quieter acoustical environment for student study sessions. Also, knowing that students keep their lives in their backpacks, Lasseter’s design team installed backpack hooks on the bar tables and “drive-thru” stations to keep personal belongings close.

“The renovations to the Student Commons give VCU students the opportunity to use the space the way they want to,” said Brendan Hood, a junior studying business administration and marketing.

Other changes include replacing the automatic sliding doors at the Floyd Avenue entrance, an overhaul of the information desk, a fresh coat of paint throughout, renovations to the Alumni Room and its surrounding facilities, and new paint and carpeting for University Counseling Services.

“My favorite part is the new color scheme and décor,” said Toni-Marie Chandler, a senior biology student. “It makes me excited to walk into our (Student) Commons and feel the vibrancy and sprit throughout the building.”

Project design started in August, around the time the previous dining renovation was completed. Construction began on Dec. 16, one day prior to the end of fall exams. Renovation ended one month later on Jan. 17 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, an alumni gathering and tours.

When asked what challenges there were in completing the current renovations, both Schenk and Lasseter laughed and said “time.”

Due to how busy the Student Commons is and how limited the time is for construction during the year, only certain parts of the facility can be renovated at a time. The only way to get the job done is through detailed planning and the work of dedicated staff members.

Schenk is now working on the next set of improvements for the Student Commons, including additional work on the University Counseling Services office during spring break and upgrades to AV equipment.

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