1986 Fall Saint Benedict's Today

              New president looks ahead to 
new opportunities, new plans 

During the past 73 years, the College ofSaint Benedict has grown from a college of several hundred students housed in a wing of one building to one of1,756 students on a campus where breaking ground for new facilities has become a common occurrence. As Sister Colman O'Connell's inaugration as CSB's 11th president begins at the same time as the dedication of the Clemens Library, it is understandable that the CSB community and friends ask, "What next?" 
"It is clear that the Clemens Library is not the end, but a giant step forward," S. Colman said in a recent interview. "It is not just additional space to ease overcrowding. The Clemens Library is an inviting space. It creates an environment which makes a statement to our students, faculty and staffthat says that learning is central to the mission of this institution," she said. 
"Its central location has also given us a sense ofbeing a unified campus bydividing a very large, empty space into areas that are human in scale," S. Colman said. 
But the move into the Clemens Library is definitely not the end. Instead, it offered new opportunities for the use of vacated spaces and caused questions of other needs to surface. "It was apparent that a comprehensive space study was needed," S. Colman said. 
Richard Dober of Dober and Associates, Inc., of Belmont, Mass., nationally known for creative space analysis, conducted a study for the college. All campus buildings were inventoried and all ofthe needs to fulfill the functions ofindividual departments were reviewed. Faculty I staff committees helped to establish priorities and set guidelines for minimum space allocat~onsfor faculty offices and similar areas. In addition, CSB space allocations were compared with those ofother college campuses. Some ofour spaces were found to be more than adequate, but others needed expansion or improvement. 
"With this information, Dober helped us make plans for presently vacated spaces," S. Colman said. "When no space was available to carry on functions we considered important, we described future construction. This resulted in the need for both renovated and new areas." And so, began the five-year plan for facility improvement. 
Areas slated for renovation are those no longer housing the library in the Main Building. "Now that the library has moved," 
S. Colman explained, "the area that housed it no longer meets code regulations ifwe change its function. Therefore, it must be brought up to code. The main floor, built in 1913, is the most beautiful in the building. We want to preserve its charm." 
Dober recommended use for every space on campus. Under the direction of Dr. Susan Basil, CSB/SJU associate vice president for institutional planning, a committee, comprised of future users ofthe area, is describing in writing the program of use for the former library space so architects can make initial drawings. 

S. Colman O'Connell 
To date, the lower floor has been renovated. Two classrooms have been created and the area that was originally the college's first gym is slated to become a tiered lecture and event room later this year. 

Basil also heads a committee doing a study ofCSB's science needs. "St. John's science facility is no longer spacious enough to accommodate both student bodies," S. Colman said. 
"In particular, it seems critical that CSB have a presence of science in a serious waybecause it is a women's college, where women ought to be considering science a serious career possibility." 
"Other needs include additional athletic and social areas at CSB," S. Colman added. 
Also under condsideration are parking, paths, landscaping, placement of future buildings and the identification of entrances and exits. "A plan has been developed and work will be done in phases, depending on the budget. These changes will enhance the appearance ofthe campus, particularly first impressions," she said. 
Future articles in Saint Benedict's Today will discuss additional plans for CSB facilities. -5BT 
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