ISU Bengal

Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Samantha Evans Cheryl Hanson, one of the campus architects, shows members of the Chamber of Commerce around the new Rendezvous Center.

Media Credit: Samantha Evans Jeff Madsen, Director of Space and Energy Management, speaks to members of the Chamber of Commerce about the new Rendezvous Center.

College students are prone to curiosity. They ask a lot of questions, and all too often those questions are answered only with rumors. When there is a multi-million dollar building being constructed at the heart of the campus it's easy to be curious. The fact is, there are a lot of questions being asked about the Rendezvous Center, but most of the answers students are hearing are rumors.

The initial idea for the Rendezvous Center was created by Scott Campbell, Director of Facilities Planning. Campbell, in hopes of dispelling some of the common rumors and misconceptions about the Center, spoke candidly about the progress of the project.

Before there was much prompting for such a large project, Campbell was in Boston, Mass. While there visiting Harvard University, Campbell stated he found himself intrigued by Harvard Square, the heart of the eastern university.

When it came time to start thinking of ways to construct what is now the Rendezvous Center, Campbell already had ideas. He wanted a large scale "multi-functioning" building, where students could study, socialize, attend classes, and sleep. He proposed the idea and it was enthusiastically accepted.

Originally Campbell wanted to name the center Albion Square, but while on a trip with a colleague, the name Rendezvous Center came to him, while he was showering, as simple and suitable.

With a $43 million budget, the project was quite large in scale. As with any project of that size, questions arose, such as "what about the parking?" Many students have expressed interest in finding out how a building with a maximum capacity of over a thousand students and staff, will provide easy-access parking. Thus far the answer is simply that it won't; no additional parking is under construction or planned to begin.

With 5,613 parking spaces available on campus already, it was found to be impractical, and not cost effective to build more. Average demand for a campus the size of ISU calls for 4,405 spaces. That means that ISU has essentially 1,208 more than average. With construction costing $15-25 thousand per parking space, it would cost an extra $7 million for just 300 more parking spaces.

Also, to build any more than 300 spaces, the lot would have to be up by the Stephens Performing Arts Center, farther away from campus. One proposed location for a new parking area was to build over Cadet Field, but this was later rejected due to concerns over water run-off and similar issues.

According to Campbell, the goal when setting up a college campus is to keep all buildings within a 10 minute walking radius. But as many students who have to make the hike across campus from Frazier Hall to the Christiansen building know, this is cutting it rather close.

With so many classrooms being located in this new building, it was important to keep it close so students could get to classes on time. According to administration officials, however, the parking areas near Reed gym, the college of technology, and Garrison and Turner halls are all in very close range and will be utilized. The plan is to use available parking, plus bump up the on-campus commuter services to make travel easier.

In light of a shortage of labs and offices for professors, the Rendezvous Center is quite necessary, administration officials contend. By holding classes in the Center, ISU will be able to convert old on-campus classrooms into labs and offices.

With the cyber café, a soundstage for performers, locking study rooms for personal or group study, classrooms, offices, and food service, it's ultimately up to the student to decide, "Is it all really necessary?"

According to Campbell, the building will meet its completion deadline of Aug. 2007, and will be open in time for the fall semester. Housing is already selling contracts for the many housing spaces available.

The Center will be a multi-purpose building that Campbell proclaims will be "the heart and soul of this institution," and a good recruiting tool for the wandering student seeking an interesting place to obtain a college education.

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