Clarkson Integrator

Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Joshua LaFave Clarkson University MBA students exhibit a moment of refl ection and silence at the 9-11 monument for fallen alumni during a team building activity led by Dan Davis, Wellness Coordinator. The ball that the students are holding symbolizes global unity, as it has traveled throughout the United States and the world.

Last spring, while students were preparing for final exams, a small committee was busy interviewing architects from around the country, to see who would get the job of designing Clarkson's soon-to-be-built student center. The chosen designers were Perkins+Will (or Perkins+Will according to their website). The architects are from Chicago, but there are offices around the country. Clarkson is working with the Boston office.

The energetic group of designers, architects, and directors from Perkins+Will first visited Clarkson in mid-July. For two days, they met with Clarkson's steering committee and discussed how the structure should look, what students expect from it, and how much it should cost. On the second day they were given a tour of campus led by members of the steering committee and some student volunteers. During this tour, they learned about Clarkson's history and its links with the community of Potsdam. That afternoon, there was a student hearing, with 12 students present.

The student center will be located between CAMP and the ERC, most likely connecting the two building. The 9/11 Memorial, which is already in this location, will be moved somewhere else. During the meeting, the firm proposed three designs and footprints of the student center. The major differences in the designs were the placement of the student center in relation to the two existing buildings, and whether a main pathway would flow through the building between the connecting bridges.

At the meeting, many uses and features for the building were discussed. Some things which have a definite place in the plans include a place to get food late at night, an office for WTSC (Clarkson's radio station), WCKN (the TV station), the Integrator offices, a lounge space, a game room, and an auditorium for movies and performances. Other ideas included an information desk and a meditation room. These were met with mixed opinions from the student hearing. Also from the students there was a large amount of opposition to any kind of administrative offices in the student center, such as student affairs, residence life, or the career center.

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