Benson Parlors to receive 'facelift' by February

By Richard Nieva

As the university looks forward to the opening of the library this spring, a more low-key project -- the renovation of the Benson Memorial Center Parlors -- is slated to be completed by Feb. 1.

The parlors, the set of rooms located on the southwest side of Benson Center generally used for university events, speakers and Associated Students Senate meetings, are undergoing a $500,000 transformation that will include new carpeting, windows, lights and "new everything," said Joe Sugg, vice president of university operations.

"It will just be getting an overall facelift," said Sugg. "We'll be bringing it into the 21st century."

New technologies and infrastructure amenities will be added, said Matt Cameron, assistant vice provost for student life.

Wireless applications and new heating and cooling ducts and controls will add to the rooms' capabilities, he said.

Sugg also cited practical reasons for the remodeling, such as getting rid of any asbestos and harmful material that comes with building wear.

The parlors were in dire need of attention, said Cameron, and are the last remnants of Benson as it was originally built. First opened in 1964, every component of the building has been remodeled since the 1980s, he said.

"The last thing really to do was the parlors," he said.

Sugg likened the project to last year's renovation of the Williman Room, at the end of the parlor corridor, which underwent a similar update.

The parlors' new look will follow the same color scheme of the Williman Room, with a palette of browns, yellows and burgundies that lift the overall spirits of the room, said Cameron.

"You'll see a much cleaner, brighter, technologically more advanced place. It'll just be a more cheery place to be," he said.

The renovation comes as a benefit to students, as student organizations, such as the senate branch of AS, are the primary users of the parlors.

The updates will also serve to better the image of the school, said Cameron, giving visitors a chance to come into a welcoming setting, as opposed to the old hallway, which Cameron described as dark and dated.

"You hate to bring people into places that are old and tired," he said. "It's nice to bring them into places that are fresh and new."

The new configuration of the area will divide the rooms into four separate parlors instead of the original five.

Parlor A, the blocked-off room which was situated toward the back of the corridor, will be moved up front, and there will be a more circular flow from one room to another.

The hallway will have ceilings of different elevations to give the room more depth and character, said Cameron.

The new parlors will meet the rest of the building by way of a semi-circular structure that will unify the parlors with the rest of the lobby, for easier access and recognition for guests who may not be familiar with the building.

The renovations will also allow the university to use the space more effectively, as there will only be one moveable wall in the new setup. This will allow events to take place in adjacent rooms with no competing noise, said Cameron.

The first event to take place in the updated parlors will be during the week of Feb. 5, when the parlors will welcome back the student senate and a series of departmental meetings will begin, Cameron said.

Contact Richard Nieva at (408) 554-4546 or rnieva@scu.edu.