Campus Center Special

Inside the new Campus Center

Photo by Jonathan Pesch

On a cold day last term an intrepid group of students braved the weather to tour the latest edition to the WPI campus, the long awaited Campus Center. Although it was not yet completed, we were able to gain a good idea of what the Campus Center will look like when it finally opens later this semester. The first word that comes to mind is big. The sheer size of the Campus Center is quite impressive. It has three floors, each of which house an eclectic mix of food service, public space, offices and meeting rooms. The large number of windows it sports further enhances the size of the Campus Center. It is virtually impossible to feel closed-in in the Campus Center.

As you walk in from the fountain, the first thing you'll notice is the octagonal student lounge complete with comfy chairs and a fireplace for those really cold days. Also on this level are the new, huge bookstore and a new touch-screen ATM. As you continue into the building, you will notice a café style area with chairs and tables. This area is open to below where a small stage is located. There are many possibilities for this stage including jazz nights, and performances from various WPI student groups. Down a hallway are several student offices, including Minority Affairs, Student Life, and a publications suite for Tech News and Peddler. The new Campus Center office and an information desk are also located near the main entrance.

Over the Edge: A group of visitors peers over the glass railing of the Quad-level balcony during a recent tour of the unfinished Campus Center. Photo by Jonathan Pesch

If you walk down the stairs to the Garden level, you'll find the food court, the new location of the student mailboxes, and a game room that will have billiard tables available for student use. There are a few meeting rooms on this level, which can now be reserved through the Events Office, which is temporarily located in Higgins 123, and will be located in the Campus Center once it opens.

If you continue to explore, you will find yourself on the third floor. This is where you'll find the largest room in the Campus Center, the multi-purpose room. This massive room will be used for WPI events that require lots of space. Also on this level are the large and small octagon meeting rooms. The Student Activities Office will be here along with a large area set aside for student organizations. Organizations housed on the third floor are SocComm, SGA, GSO, ISC, IFC, the PanHellenic council, and WWPI. Finally, another public lounge is located here, perfect for between-class studying. The opening of the Campus Center in early D term will mark the end several long years of planning, fund-raising, waiting and construction. It is only weeks now until the Campus Center opens its doors and steps up as the newest fixture of WPI student life.