The metamorphosis of the Smith Memorial Student Union continues with the renovation of office spaces on the fourth floor’s west side. The relocation of the offices of Student Affairs and Student Activities and Leadership Program has enabled construction crews to begin the long-awaited overhaul of those spaces.
The Office of Student Affairs has temporarily moved to the basement of SMSU, Room 47, where the student government office was formerly located. Having opened for regular business on Wednesday at noon, they will continue to provide their regular services of directing students with personnel problems to proper facilitators. They will also continue student ambassador functions, with doors open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
ASPSU apparently left unwanted items behind in their move, so OSA members have been working diligently to rid the entryway of the pile of boxes, old furniture and computer parts that are destined for the dumpster.
Asked if he is happy with the temporary locale, John Borromeo, OSA office manager, said it is nice having a bigger space to work in but he isn’t growing any roots, since their return to the renovated spaces upstairs will take place in mid-February.
“Maybe we’ll get used to it here,” he said. “I guess it could grow on us.”
Sharing the space with the OSA is the Pre-Health Society, which intends to stay in the basement location indefinitely.
There are two main objectives for the renovations on the fourth floor. One is to conduct seismic upgrades on the structures, the other is to create an all-new browsing lounge for students, similar to the lounge located on the second floor, with comfortable furniture and a nice view of the Park Blocks.
“For a commuter school, our campus is very under-lounged,” said Alan Brown, one of the project overseers. “This will give students a relaxing place to meet informally and to maintain friendships.”
An interesting aspect of the seismic upgrades will be that one of the three structural braces will be left exposed, with information about its function and purpose posted nearby so that interested spectators can learn about earthquake-proofing.
The first step of the construction project will be the abatement of asbestos, followed by the demolition of the entire stretch of walls in front of the Park Block windows. It will be finished up with the construction work. Portland State is under commitment to the city of Portland to upgrade fire-sprinkler systems to bring the building up to code, so those improvements will be made, as well.
When completed, the overhauled OSA office will boast three new office spaces, where Wendy Endress, dean of students, and Michelle Topey, assistant dean of students, will work.
Their offices have permanently moved to the first floor of SMSU, behind the resource hub.
The project, started this Monday, is projected to be finished by mid-February, according to Brown.