Students to Create
By George Theo
New Campus Amenities
Students from the University of Washington Bothell are hatching some exciting plans to improve facilities and amenities offered on campus. As enrollment continues to grow, so, too, do the needs for a more complete student life experience. To address these needs, UW Bothell has created a Student Facilities Advisory Committee (SFAC) to make recommendations and provide funding. The committee has currently identified three projects: bookstore and coffee shop renovation, development of the sports and recreation complex, and the creation of a student activities center and student union building.
Students need fuel to burn the midnight oil. So, in conjunction with the University Bookstore, the SFAC developed a plan to convert a portion of the bookstore into a café and student center. The café, located adjacent to the library, will be open into the evening providing students a place to gather and refuel while staying late to utilize the library. The café, called Food for Thought, will provide fresh fruit smoothies, panini sandwiches, salads, pastries, and coffee products from Caffe Vita. This project will be completed in late March with a grand opening scheduled for Tuesday, April 5.
Students want, and need, to stay physically active. The SFAC has committed to creating a sports and recreation complex to meet these needs. In the pre-design process, students identified the following programs to be included in the recreation complex: a soccer field, softball field, two tennis courts, one basketball court, a sand volleyball court, and an improved walking path around the complex. It will also be designed to allow student groups and the University to develop intramural programs and club sports, and even accommodate a speaker series, small concerts, and potentially, the annual commencement exercises. The SFAC surveyed the students on campus and found that 94% of the respondents agreed that the field would be a positive addition to the campus experience. The anticipated time frame for completion for this project is the winter of 2012.
Finally, students need more indoor spaces to meet, socialize and stay active. The SFAC has completed a study to assess the feasibility of a student center, which could include: additional food options, student government space, communal space, indoor fitness center space, a news room, club space and a large hall for events. The recreation complex and student center projects are being paid for by a special student fund. Over the course of the coming year, the SFAC will be putting together a timeline and plan to potentially move forward with this project. The next step in this process will be to survey students and get a clearer understanding of the needs and desires for the project.
