University Commons: Transforming Arcadia
The Commons— Our New ‘Living Room’
“Our new Commons will be a vital center for the University community—for students, faculty, alumni, staff, friends, visitors, everyone. What we need is for everyone to step up and help to make it a reality. Every gift, whatever the size, will help to transform this University.”
—Lois E. Haber ’71, Chair of the Arcadia University Board of Trustees
Our new University Commons will be a transformative addition to our campus. Representing the last great space on our campus green, this vital new hub will provide a much-needed and inviting gathering place at the heart of our campus.
When we built our Kuch Recreation and Athletic Center some 15 years ago, we were on the vanguard of investing in a student’s complete educational experience. Now we are extending that vision to enhance a student center offering opportunities for the kind of rich intellectual and cultural exchanges that can foster friendships to last a lifetime.
Linked to Kuch Center, the new Commons will become one of the most frequently used buildings on campus. It will encompass 62,000 square feet of new construction as well as Kuch Center renovations.
Highlights of the three-story Commons include student lounges, a fireplace gathering spot, activity areas, dining areas and a café for the University community. Flexible meeting rooms will provide for small and large gatherings of up to 500 people, and other features will include aerobics and dance studios, an art exhibit space and a balcony overlooking the campus green. More about the University Commons.
The Commons also will include open, naturally lit areas designed for energy conservation and, if funding is available, will incorporate solar panels to enhance environmental sensitivity and reduce operating costs.
With its ample meeting rooms and inviting exhibition and performance spaces, the new Commons not only will benefit our students and faculty, but also will enable us to expand our offering of public lectures, performances, exhibits and conferences to our surrounding community and beyond.
The Commons—Our New ‘Living Room’
Years ago, Grey Towers Castle served as our campus commons. At the time, our institution was small enough that the entire campus community could gather in the Castle.
Those days are long gone. But soon, says Jan Walbert, Vice President for Student Affairs, Arcadia will once again have a welcoming hub at the heart of campus that can accommodate our entire community.
“It’s important for our campus to have a central gathering place,” notes Walbert. “The new University Commons will provide a place for students, faculty and staff to meet and visit, to share a meal or a gallery show and to nurture lasting friendships. For the first time in years, this special place will have a central ‘living room’ again.”
