St. Norbert Times

Issue date: 10/26/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: Lauren Lathers

Undoubtedly, St. Norbert College is changing at a rapid pace. With the addition of the Mulva Library and Gries Hall this year, many students and community members are wondering what is next for the campus. The former Todd Wehr Library, now Todd Wehr Hall, is now under renovation and has opened up many opportunities for the future growth of the school.

John Barnes, director of facilities, was more than enthusiastic to discuss the current renovations and the future goals of SNC.

He discussed the changes and the future of Todd Wehr Hall with a smile on his face: "It is marvelous that we are not only renovating the building, but we actually are helping to build and strengthen many of the programs that will be moved into [Todd Wehr Hall].

The building will be renovated to be a student services building that includes the offices for financial aid, payroll, Residence Education and Hosing (REH), the bookstore, Norbertine Vocations, the parish office, academic support services, career services and other student services.

"We want to have one central information desk where students can go and get 80 percent of their questions answered," Barnes said. "We really wanted to use the building as a single source, or one-stop-shop for student services in the middle of campus."

The main floor of Todd Wehr Hall will be used for the high volume services that draw students, with other organizations on the top floors.

"The building should be ready in February of this year and operating in March," Barnes explained. "Now, instead of running all over campus to take care of say, a payroll problem, students will be able to get everything taken care of right in Todd Wehr Hall."

With the bookstore moving, the question remains: what will become of the St. Boniface building, current home of the bookstore?

"Right now, we are not sure what we are going to do with the building," Barnes stated. "We have invited people to write proposals for the building, but none have been reviewed yet."

One such proposal, made by Dr. Michael Marsden, dean of the college and academic vice president, is to transform the bookstore into a theatre space, in part, because of the building's acoustics.

While the future of the St. Boniface building is undetermined, the facilities department is open to suggestions.

Continued...

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