Students visiting Baker University Center’s lower lounge this quarter will note a drastically different appearance after summer renovations.
Student Senate’s RSVP party, which won the majority of seats in the Spring Quarter elections, was behind the push for the lower lounge renovations, which were funded with rollover from previous years and some salary savings from last year. The total budget allowed for the project is $200,000, Baker Center Executive Director Sujit Chemburkar said in the spring.
Some of the electronics will be installed in the area this week, and officials are waiting on furniture, Chemburkar said. The renovations will be completed as soon as possible, and the space could be ready as soon as October, he added.
“RSVP had a desire to renovate the lower floor of Baker University Center because we wanted it to become more student-friendly,” Student Senate President Kyle Triplett said. “Baker has The Front Room, West 82 and Latitude 39, but it lacked a place for students to relax and socialize, and the renovated space on the first floor is a major step in that direction.”
The renovations will include new carpeting, repainted walls, a new dance floor and stage, new flat-screen TVs, a pull gate, a new sound system and new furnishings voted on by students, Chemburkar said.
“We were looking to instill some excitement into the lounge,” Chemburkar said. “We’re adding a lot more green and white and OU decals on the wall to make Baker Center really feel like a part of campus. It will be a place where you know you’re at Ohio University.”
The first-floor renovations will also improve Baker’s space efficiency, Chemburkar said. Before the renovations, small lounge areas in Baker were used for programming but presented size limitations.
“The new lounge will be much larger and much more visible and accessible,” Chemburkar said. “It will allow for a larger head count for activities.”
The extra space will attract students, Triplett said.
“The old space prior to renovation contained a few billiard tables, and in my opinion, was underutilized,” Triplett said. “This renovated space will provide an excellent place that is central to campus for student programming to occur.”
The installation of the pull gate will allow the lower lounge to be open later without having to keep the whole building open.
Chemburkar said he is excited for the renovations to be complete and is certain students will like the changes.
“Any student that I’ve talked to has been excited about it,” Chemburkar said. “I want people to have a more intimate setting — a place for students to come and be together as Ohio University Bobcats.”
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