Houston Hall Relocations: Swing Space for Some, New Homes for Others
As the start of Houston Hall renovations approaches, swing space has
been identified for some of the student and staff offices now there, and
others are moving to new permanent locations.
The 107-year-old student union is scheduled to close in May for about
18 months as part of the construction of the Perelman Quadrangle that will
link Houston, Irvine, College, Logan and Williams Halls around a redesigned
plaza.
Dr. Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum and the student-led Perelman Quadrangle
Space Allocation Board announced these spring 1998 moves:
- The Program for Student-Community Involvement (PSCI), will move
into the building formerly occupied by the Division of Public Safety at
3914 Locust Walk, to form the basis of a new Community Service Learning
Center (click
here for full story).
- The Office of Health Education will also be at 3914 Locust Walk
temporarily, until permanent space for its programs is identified. Dr.
McCoullum said the University's Space Committee is working to find permanent
space for the program prior to the May closing of Houston Hall.
- Moving to Carriage House on Irving Street, but returning to Houston
Hall when work is completed in 1999, will be three administrative offices--Student
Life Activities and Facilities, Financial Services Center, and Student
Life/Room Reservations--plus these student organizations:
- Undergraduate Assembly (UA)
- Nominations and Elections Committee
- Student Committee on Undergraduate Education (SCUE)
- Student Activities Council (SAC)
- Social Planning and Events Committee (SPEC) and
- The Class Boards.
- GAPSA, which will move temporarily to the first floor of Graduate
Tower B, will also return permanently to Houston Hall after renovations
are complete.
- Penn Student Agencies (PSA) will move temporarily to the Carriage
House, but its permanent space will be in Williams Hall.
- The Penn Student Credit Union will move to permanent space on
the second floor of 3401 Walnut Street.
Last summer, as work on the Perelman Quad necessitated the temporary
closing of Irvine Auditorium and affected a number of student performing
arts groups, a new permanent scene shop was developed at 4100 Walnut for
the performing arts, and the former MTI Theatre in Tabernacle church--now
known as the Iron Gate Theatre--was leased and renovated. Temporary rehearsal
spaces were leased in St. Mary's Church on Locust Walk and in the Gwen
Bye studios in University City, and temporary performing arts student office
spaces are now located in the Rotunda at 40th and Walnut Streets.
The Perelman Quadrangle Space Allocation Board will begin receiving
requests in February from other student groups located in Houston Hall,
Dr. McCoullum said, as part of the student-led, annual office allocation
process.
"I am grateful to the many undergraduate, graduate and professional
students, faculty members and staff colleagues who have worked so tirelessly
and collaboratively over the past months both to develop a program and
recommend relocation options," said Dr. McCoullum, adding that she
was grateful that the University Space Committee was "very sensitive
to the students' thoughtful proposals."