Situated far away from the cluster of coffee shops near Palmer Square and Witherspoon Street, the Engineering Quadrangle will soon bring good coffee a little closer to home.
E-Quad administrators say initial planning is underway to build a café off the lobby of the building.
Though she doesn't remember how the idea came about, Dean of the Engineering School Maria Klawe said many faculty, staff and students said last fall that they wanted a gathering place.
"Because there is no eating or coffee place in the E-Quad, there is no place for students and faculty from all departments to get together and meet eachother," she said. "Plus, the buildings are far away from favorite coffee shops like Small World and Starbucks."
Aside from just enjoying the aroma of coffee, Operations Research and Financial Engineering professor Robert Vanderbei, felt that a café might attract more students to study and socialize in the E-Quad.
"The E-Quad is in need of renovating/updating and if a coffee shop is part of the improvements it seems fine to me," he said in an email.
The Friend Center has seemed to decrease the number of students who frequent the E-Quad, Vanderbei said.
"The café would definitely be something that I would take advantage of, because I am out at the E-Quad for class every day," said Anthony Turner '05, who is majoring in chemical engineering.
An initial architectural drawing and model of the café is on display in the lobby of the building along with a suggestion box. The current plans call for the café to be built where classroom C-207 now stands, and open to the second floor at the level of the E-Quad courtyard.
"We are trying to do this in an open way," Klawe said. "It is hard to get feedback without a preliminary conceptual plan."
To gain further input about specifics for the plan, students, faculty, and staff associated with the engineering school were asked to fill out a survey about preferred operating hours and menu selections.
The survey also asks participants to rank possible vendor selections — including Starbucks, Small World, Au Bon Pain and Café Vivian.
"Rather than just talk to a few students and staff, a survey will allow us to get a sense of what most students want," Klawe said.
A completed, opened café is still months away. Full architectural plans and permission from the University and the town must be obtained before any construction can begin.
Read More
GSG approves audit, delays budget approval after ‘insufferable’ meeting
Nikki HanThe final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
The final Graduate Student Government (GSG) meeting for the semester lasted more than an hour and a half when discussions over the proposed budget for the next year and a proposed Student Life Fee of $100 turned controversial.
Effort to restore chapel’s pews slowly progresses
Ben GoldstonHead carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Head carpenter Jim Sullivan has been restoring the Chapel pews over the last year. The dry atmosphere of the Chapel has warped the wooden pews over the years.
Metals, molecules, and medicine: chemical biology’s influence on health and sustainability
Aanya KaseraChemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.
Chemistry professor Chris Chang’s lab studies the chemical biology of the elements, specifically examining the roles that copper, iron, and zinc play in biology across all kingdoms of life.