History of the WPI Campus Center
| 1908 | The WPI yearbook writes: "It is the earnest hope that some suitable building will be erected to bring students together at least once a week." |
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| 1969 | The Faculty Planning Committee that drafted the WPI Plan recommends that a campus center be built to help foster the positive social climate and sense of community that the Plan demanded. |
| September 1985 | Alden Hall is studied as a possible site for a Student Center. Carol Hebert, WPI Events coordinator at that time, remarks, "I would like to see a student center and I think it is very much needed". |
| September 1989 | A letter and petition is drafted by Michael Donahue, Student Body President asking that the trustees and President Strauss "do all in their power to aid this campus center in materializing." |
| November 25, 1991 | The Commission for Residential and Social Life hosts an open meeting. Dicussion centered around an ongoing campaign by students for a Campus Center. |
| November 1992 | The Commission for Residential and Social Life reports: "Without the investment in a campus center, the Commission believes the central finding of its work - that WPI lacks a focal point for campus identity and community - will continue to be an unfulfilled need. The Commission regards the commitment to a campus center as its most important recommendation." |
| Early 1993 | Formation of the Campus and Recreation Center Committee |
| September 1993 | Janet Richardson, Dean of Student Life reports, "the search for the third tower is over," as she has been charged by President Strauss to deliver an official report to the Trustees on an overall program for the Campus Center. |
| September 1993 | Several members of WPI's community visit Amherst and Wesleyan colleges to assess their Campus Centers as part of WPI's ongoing effort to develop a program for our own Campus Center. |
| October 1993 | An Open Community Council Meeting is held in Perreault Hall to discuss, among other things, the Campus Center. A group visits Bryant College's Student Center. |
| April 1997 | The "silent phase" of WPI's next fundraising campaign begins. Additionally, a group begins the process of choosing an architect to design the center. |
| October 17, 1997 | Time frame, program and groundbreaking dates are discussed at the Board of Trustees meeting. |
| November 1997 | After exploring the possibility of a combined "campus and recreation center," the committee decides to pursue the projects in phases. The Campus Center will be constructed in Phase I, and the "recreation center" piece is deferred "Phase II." |
| January 1999 | Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott completes construction documents for the Campus Center. |
| April 1999 | The $150 million Campaign for WPI is publicly launched with the Campus Center as its premier goal. |
| October 29, 1999 | Groundbreaking ceremony for the Campus Center |
| March 19, 2001 | The WPI Campus Center opens its doors to the public! |
| March 30, 2001 | Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony |
Last modified: December 06, 2007 16:32:12