Those who have been on Western Connecticut State University’s Midtown Campus this semester are likely to have taken notice of the fenced-off construction zone between Haas Library and Higgins Hall. This is due to the fact that the area -once known by members of the campus community as Berkshire Hall- is now in the process of being converted into the campus’s brand-new Student Center.

Plans for the new Midtown Student Center have been in development for about eight years, according to Chief Facilities Officer and AVP for Campus Planning Luigi Marcone, who stated that the building will be a key aspect of the Facilities Master Plan. The initial plan also included the previous remodeling and renovation of Higgins Hall.

WCSU received a presentation from an architecture and interior design firm in January of 2021 containing a series of conceptual designs for the construction. Construction documents were then developed from the designs during spring 2020, and subsequently put out to bid to outline a more concrete budget. Marcone estimates the budget thus far to be over $24 million on an “investment in our future as a university.”

“We are currently in a demolition phase,” said WCSU Planning Department director Daniel Casinelli, “A lot of what’s going on inside of the building includes things being taken down; ceilings, doors, cabinets and everything else inside.” Fencing will likely remain in place throughout the demolition and construction phases “to keep our community safe from walking into an active construction zone with equipment and people moving back and forth.”

Within the next month, a wrecking ball is set to arrive to demolish the front portion of the building to make way for the new glass box design facing the interior of the quad. Showcased by the glass-fronted exterior, will be the building’s main level, containing the fireplace and coffee lounges, as well as the west lobby. Beyond the lobby and lounges will be “the primary dining facility on-campus,” titled servery, as well as the point of service. “The intent (of the point of service) is to relocate everything that is food-related in the Student Center; giving an opportunity for late-night prepared meals to be picked up, maybe catering or something else that can be ordered in advance. Food service is still working through a lot of those points, but that is going to be the grab-and-go location,” said Marcone.

On the other side of the Student Center, the building will feature a new recreation center.

According to the concept design, the new recreation offices will be located there, in addition to locker rooms and shower facilities for all campus personnel. Aside from the other changes to the recreation center, the multi-purpose gymnasium located in Berkshire Hall will remain mostly untouched, with some minor renovations and alterations.

An athletic training facility is slated to be installed as well, where athletic trainers can go to help student athletes with injuries and recreation. The facility will also allow the Department of Health Promotion and Exercise Science to offer more student internship opportunities on-campus. Two studios for HPX classes and practices for cheerleading, dance, and other recreational purposes will be installed next to the training facilities.

Changes may occur between the current design concept and the final product, but the plans should offer a “good idea of how we envision the transformation,” explained Marcone. WCSU university aims to have the building ready for re-occupancy in spring or summer of 2023.