Templeton Student Center

MEETING NOTES

November 17, 2003

A preliminary planning meeting to discuss possible changes or renovations to the Templeton Student Center was held on Monday, November 17, 2003.

Meeting participants discussed areas of needed improvement (challenges) and ways to address the issues (areas of improvement). Major themes emerged as the meeting evolved. These themes were in the areas of Development of a Main Entrance with an Information Center, Food Service, Student Needs, Administrative Needs, Building Design and creating community at Lewis & Clark College. Below are the challenges and areas of improvement identified by the group.

After the group brainstormed Problems and Ideas for Improvements, an informal voting process was held to get a sense of the issues that the group thought were of greatest importance. Highly ranked issues are written in italics and the number of “dots” signifies the degree of importance for the issue.

Participants included:
Leigh Halverson, Student, Administrative Asst. to ASLC President.
Maura Ross, Student Activities Intern.
Lauren Senkyr, Student Representative.
Robert Fung, Director, Student Activities.
Sandi Bottemiller, Director, Residential Services.
Jeff Rott, General Manager, Bob Appetit.
Sherron Stonecypher, Director, Campus Events.
Michael Sestric, Campus Planner.
Denise King, Campus Planning Administrator.
Jane Atkinson, Provost.
Harry Schleef, Dean, Social Science Division.

Challenges and/or problems with the existing building.
Items listed in this category include those things about Templeton that were felt to be the biggest problems about the existing building. Of the nine items on the list, four were elevated by common consensus to a higher level. The list includes:

* Students may not feel ownership of TSC (3 dots)
* There's a lack of structured student group offices and meeting space. (3 dots)
* It is difficult to navigate through the building. This includes issues of ADA compliance, poor signage and lighting, and no identifiable "main" entrance. (3 dots)
* Food service for on-campus and off-campus students does not promote community. (1 dot)
* Templeton parking
* TSC seems too institutional. Doesn't promote or facilitate community.
* Does not fit into campus image or aesthetics.
* Lack of connection among various functions: both spatially and functionally.
* Does not meet the needs of the campus community. Not the "hub" of the campus.

Areas of Improvement
Each member of the workshop group was asked to write down the three most important things that they thought could be done to improve the building or provide better ways to accommodate and meet the program goals that the building is intended to achieve. There was no effort to edit the ideas, distinguish between goals, programs, architectural solutions, etc. After the master list was created, it was sorted into the categories below. Again, participants were asked to “vote” by placing dots against the items that they thought were the most important issues. Significant issues received one or more dots and are listed below in italics.

Building Design
Items in this category reflect the unusual and sometimes dysfunctional nature of the existing building. Ideas include solutions to existing problems (Wayfinding by visitors and newcomers, improvements in space utilization and organization, and ideas for additional services and programs.
* Need central "info"-type desk for general assistance to campus community members and visitors (6 dots)
* Zone the Building: 1st floor for administrative offices; 2nd floor for student space, clubs and organizations offices; 3rd floor for food services. (5 dots)
* Efficiently fit space to program needs (2 dots)
* Better public appearance for visitors (1 dot)
* A logical, immediately comprehensible layout with clearly identifiable routes of circulation and directional information.
* Renovate the courtyard to better utilize space. Possibly place a weather resistant cover over the courtyard. (1dot)
* One central place where events are listed, info can be provided (rather than multiple small boards)
Make a map for entrances for visitors (visitors guide)
* Identify other types of services to be provided in Templeton (ticketing area, publication work area, activities resource area, etc.)

LC Community
This category includes ideas about how to improve Templeto to better serve the broad range of users that depend on the building for essential services, visitors and other College-wide uses served by the building.
* An inviting public lounge area for students, staff, faculty and visitors (8 dots)
* Need a multi-purpose space that can truly serve events - dances, concerts, performances, banquets, etc. (4 dots)
* Need art gallery space for student artshows and artshows tied to events in the building
* Space w/a dance floor for dance clubs, fundraiser dances, and music concerts.
* A facility that better showcases Lewis & Clark College.

Students
Ideas in this category included ways to improve student access and provide better or more program space for student government and organizations.
* More space for student groups, with space that is relative to the size of the group (5 dots)
* Primarily an undergraduate student building (2 dots)
* A central location for all student group offices. (2 dots)
* Personalize the building to get students/student organizations involved and active.
* Make access to student government easier, perhaps through linking w/student groups
* Develop a community resource workroom to include space for making posters and banners, a coin-operated copier, paper cutter, paper supplies, etc.

Administration
Ideas in this category include ways to improve or expand the administrative uses of Templeton, including program space for summer programs and necessary administrative programs that must be housed in the building (registrar, cashier, student fincncial, Bob Appetit, etc.). No effort was made in this work session to limit or otherwise define an appropriate mix of administrative uses that should be in Templeton.
* Look at May through August rental options/services. (3 dots)
* Improve Facilities and Media Services storage areas. (2 dots)
* General purpose meeting/event space for College Relations (1 dot)
* Identify/create more storage for bookstore and general deliveries.
* Students must feel ownership, but if they "control" TSC, other suitable meeting space must be available for non-student events.
* A faculty dining room.
* Reallocate space thematically, and in terms of priority and use. (i.e. student groups near student groups, administrative offices near administrative offices.) (also a Student issue)

Food Services
* A modern café and performance space (coffeehouse) with both retail and board service. (7 dots)
* A loading dock with easier access. (2 dots) (also an Admin. Issue)
* Relocate the Trailroom to the Bon(Fields) and create a hub for student offices and student lounge. (2 dots)
* Improve Catering's operations space. (1 dot)
* Create more food storage space, primarily for cold storage and equipment.
* A faculty dining room.

Some planning assumptions for the future:
* TSC is a multi-use facility w/an emphasis on undergraduate student activities.
* Identify list of "essentials" for a student center. Prioritize this list and then set about seeing how we can meet these needs in the existing buiding.

Outcomes
* Information from the meeting needs to be made available to LC community through:
Website
Direct notices to stakeholders
* More community input needs to be solicited through:
Website
Outreach forums
Polls/Surveys
* A Task Force/Planning Committee consisting of primary stakeholders or their representatives should be formed to develop vision, plans and process for renovating Templeton. This Committee should meet early Spring semester.

The Group brainstormed a list of Templeton Stakeholders. The list includes:
* Undergraduate Students
* Residents
* Commuters
* Law Students
* Graduate Students
* College Relations
* Bon Appetit
* Student Clubs and Organizations
* Trustees
* College Outdoors
* College Administrative Services (Michael Ford may be a good representative for this group?)
* Business Offices
* Health Center
* Counseling Center
* Residence Life
* Student Activities
* Mailroom
* Events Management
* Facilities Services
* Media Services
* IT
* Symposia Leaders
* Faculty
* Skyline