By Nicholas Williams
The Degenstein Campus Center may be getting a new look in the near future, here is what we know so far.
Home to the campus dining hall, bookstore, art gallery and much more, the Charles B. Degenstein Campus Center is the heart of Susquehanna’s campus. That being said, the last time it was renovated was in 2006.
While this will serve as an update for the building, there are also plans to add a new venue to house about 400 people at a time. Not only would this space be used for campus events, but it would also become available for the general public to rent out.
The main source of financial support for this endeavor is the Charles B. Degenstein Foundation, which has pledged $10 million to the university project. This sum will be distributed incrementally over a six-year period.
While this project is still in the planning phase, the foundation’s pledge allows for the school to move forward and begin searching for an architect. Once a firm is found, the plans will be finalized, and construction can begin.
While the $10 million will cover the majority of expenses, the university is still seeking out grants to cover the remainder of the costs.
While this will most likely happen over the summer, it will not be all at once. Malcom Derk, President Green’s Chief of Staff, says “If we are able to secure all the funding, it’s likely it would happen in phases.”
Derk says that while parts of it, such as the event venue, can happen during the academic year, other parts cannot. Those include spaces such as the dining hall, kitchen area, and Apple Meeting Rooms.
As of now there is no time frame for the project. After an architect is found, Derk says that they will have a better idea of how long things will take and where they will begin.
