View of proposed Student Activities Center from Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Winston-Salem State University is currently engaged in the design phase of a new Student Activities Center. The facility will be approximately 92,000 square feet in area, with an proposed budget of $31.5 million. The selected architects are Woolpert North Carolina PLLC, with design consulting from the architectural firm of Moody Nolan, a nationally recognized expert in the design of student activities centers.
Theo Howard, WSSU associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said the center is needed to keep pace with the university’s growth. “WSSU’s enrollment has ballooned from roughly 2,500 to 6,400 since 2003. With such significant growth, we found it necessary to begin plans for this new facility to meet the various needs of our students with regard to campus life,” said Howard. ”Studies have shown the student involvement, collegiate
View of Plaza between Thompson Center and proposed Student Activities Center
experiences, and satisfaction with student life have a direct impact on retention. The Association of College Unions International defined the role of the union back in the 1930s, and it still exists as the same idea – A Student Union is supposed to be the living room of the campus; it is the hearthstone. We seek to enhance our students’ in-class experiences with quality out-of-class experiences; that’s what campus life is all about.”
Howard said the new facility will serve as a combination recreation center and student union. ”We will make it as easy as possible for students to host events, catch a bite to eat in between classes, exercise, compete in intramural sports, watch the news and keep up with events on one of our digital display boards.”
The current design includes 2 indoor basketball courts, fitness areas including weights and cardio circuit training, group exercise/dance studios, jogging track, locker facilities, administrative offices, student activities offices, student government offices, fitness staff offices, social lounge, commuter/study lounge, meeting/study rooms, campus hall/multi-purpose flexible space including stage with seating up to 600 persons, arcade/game room, billiards/table tennis room, barber shop and beauty salon, food court, and 150 person dining area.
Proposed Student Activities Center, northwest entrance.
The Student Activities Center will be located adjacent to the south side of the Thompson Student Services Center, with a planned addition of a new terraced plaza between the two buildings. The Student Activities Center will be prominently viewed from Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, as well as from other locations on campus.
The current schedule is anticipating a completion date in the fall of 2012.
