2008 Woodie Awards
Student Union planning underway
Facility planners and architects receive feedback from students
Alex Hand
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News
As enrollment at CSUSM is increasing, the university is looking to expand campus life and resources with talks of adding a new Student Union. Currently, the process is in its first phase, which consists of gathering information and determining feasibility.
In an effort to gather information and get student feedback regarding the Union, the university put together many focus groups of students who met facility planners and architects on Tues. March 18. The meetings were designed to acquire student feedback and gather information in regards to students wants and needs in a Student Union. In attendance to conduct the research were Brailsord & Dunlavey Facility Planners and the HGA Architecture Firm.
The first question addressed to students in attendance was why they chose to come to Cal State San Marcos. Student responses varied but mostly had to do with small class sizes and location. Consistent with the focus on student wants and needs; the meeting proceeded with discussion surrounding what students would like to see in a Student Union on campus.
James Carruthers of Brailsford & Dunlavey made it apparent that they were listening to what students had to say when he stated, "This is going to be more of a student oriented space as opposed to an academically oriented space, if that's okay with you guys."
Russell Decker, of Planning design and Construction on campus had something similar to say. "We build what people want us to build" said Decker.
Ideas and programs discussed primarily had to do with food and a better social environment on campus. Students in attendance had a great variety of ideas ranging from a cafeteria, to an internet café, or even a pub on campus. One student even voiced the suggestion that the building should be made out of recycled materials, since CSUSM has a reputation of being such a recycling savvy campus.
Matthew Bohannon, also of Brailsford & Dunlavey incorporated feasibility into the discussion as well.
"Part of what we are trying to do is figure out the financial threshold at this point," said Bohannon.
With the CSU system facing budget cuts, it is important to determine where the funds to build the Union would come from. Chances are the funds would come out of the pockets of the students since the Student Union would be a student-oriented, student-run space. Another question addressed to students was how much they were willing to see their tuition increase in order to see that the Student Union was built. Most students in attendance had no problem with a slight increase in tuition just as long as the Union was built the right way.
In an effort to gather information and get student feedback regarding the Union, the university put together many focus groups of students who met facility planners and architects on Tues. March 18. The meetings were designed to acquire student feedback and gather information in regards to students wants and needs in a Student Union. In attendance to conduct the research were Brailsord & Dunlavey Facility Planners and the HGA Architecture Firm.
The first question addressed to students in attendance was why they chose to come to Cal State San Marcos. Student responses varied but mostly had to do with small class sizes and location. Consistent with the focus on student wants and needs; the meeting proceeded with discussion surrounding what students would like to see in a Student Union on campus.
James Carruthers of Brailsford & Dunlavey made it apparent that they were listening to what students had to say when he stated, "This is going to be more of a student oriented space as opposed to an academically oriented space, if that's okay with you guys."
Russell Decker, of Planning design and Construction on campus had something similar to say. "We build what people want us to build" said Decker.
Ideas and programs discussed primarily had to do with food and a better social environment on campus. Students in attendance had a great variety of ideas ranging from a cafeteria, to an internet café, or even a pub on campus. One student even voiced the suggestion that the building should be made out of recycled materials, since CSUSM has a reputation of being such a recycling savvy campus.
Matthew Bohannon, also of Brailsford & Dunlavey incorporated feasibility into the discussion as well.
"Part of what we are trying to do is figure out the financial threshold at this point," said Bohannon.
With the CSU system facing budget cuts, it is important to determine where the funds to build the Union would come from. Chances are the funds would come out of the pockets of the students since the Student Union would be a student-oriented, student-run space. Another question addressed to students was how much they were willing to see their tuition increase in order to see that the Student Union was built. Most students in attendance had no problem with a slight increase in tuition just as long as the Union was built the right way.
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