Thoughtfully designing campus spaces is an important part of fostering vibrant community life on campus. We’re glad much-needed renovations to the HAWC are coming this summer and it looks like the planners are on the right track.
We’ve been promised a better coffee shop convenience store TV lounge and more student activities offices.
While the water-stained ceiling tiles ripped and stained carpet relatively dysfunctional air-hockey table and uncomfortable furniture is incredibly endearing we won’t miss them. We do have some considerations though for the planners.
It looks like we’re getting an improved coffee shop a TV lounge and a store with chicken wings nachos and other ‘sports spectator’ snacks on the menu. These seem like two separate vibes: will it be more of a coffee shop or a sports lounge?
There isn’t a known successful sports lounge/coffee shop. Consideration should be given to keep the integrity of both of those spaces.
This facelift is also designed to match the feel of the HAWC?to the more recently renovated areas on campus such as the JPA?classrooms or the RAC?lobby.
Those are nice areas but keep in mind that the HAWC is an area for students to hang out in. So keep it lively and colorful with the social function of this space clearly in mind.
Some new game machines wouldn’t hurt either. To accompany the pool tables pingpong table semi-functional air hockey table and the foosball table it would be sick to see a pinball machine or a skee ball game (why not?). Nothing spells classic and fun like an arcade lounge to go with the sports bar idea.
We’re also very happy to hear about the idea of a convenience store. For freshmen without a car having an easy place to go for a toothbrush or laundry detergent is a sorely missed amenity. Just try to keep the prices similar to what we’d find at CVS or Ralphs.
Also if SGA?offices are going to expand student leaders should keep in mind that this extra space demands extra accountability.
If this has been in the works for as long as it has then the space will be as we hope an epic improvement. New TVs a sports lounge coffee shop and better food would undoubtedly bring a new liveliness to the HAWC. But if the renovations are going to have the desired effect the renovation cannot be done half-heartedly. It would really be great to see a desirable and fun student community center on campus.