New Administration Building to Provide 'One-Stop Shop'
By Anayo Awuzie
"A Bold New Welcome to Santa Clara University" is the moniker for the new Patricia A. & Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building.
It is indeed a bold move by the university, going hand in hand with the multitude of "hard hat required" transformations occurring all over campus.
Dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the Class of 1960 — Fr. Locatelli's class — it was mainly gifted by Patricia A. and Stephen C. Schott, along with more gifts donated by other members of the Class of 1960.
The center, with construction taking place on the Bannan parking lot that used to be on Palm Drive, is supposed to be a one-stop shop for prospective and for current students as well. "A gateway" as the university describes it; the building will allow students to check their financial aid, register for classes, pay bills and more.
"Imagine that someone says there is a big added Macy's but they don't tell you where Macy's is so you're not impressed with Macy's," said Joe Sugg, Assistant Vice President of University Operations. "This building is one part a recruiting tool. We want you to know what all the opportunities are for you here."
Currently, if you wanted to learn about the university you would go to Varsi Hall, a sixty-one year old building constructed in 1950, once used as a library and located at the back of campus.
Some may ask, "Why Now?" The university is currently going through two major construction projects between the new Admissions building and Graham Residence Hall. Recent years have seen a number of construction projects as well, including the Locatelli Student Center, the Orradre Library and the University Villas as well as rennovations to the Alumni Center. The new Admissions building is the final piece in the 10-year Master plan set forth in 2001, when most of the ideas for the new buildings that have recently been built came from.
Additionally, this will be Santa Clara's fifth year in a row experiencing a record number of applications, with over 13,000 students vying for a spot. In the past two years alone, applications have increased by 30 percent and many consider Santa Clara.
"There is no room to host all of the students. Not the best experience that we want to give to our incoming prospective students," says Mike Wallace, director of The Santa Clara Fund, "This new building will be the face of the university."
Gone will be the days of having to travel through the discreet grass fields to reach Varsi Hall and then gathering unknown strengths within your being to trek back towards Palm Drive to the easily missed Walsh Administration Building. The functions of these distant buildings will be combined for an easier trip.
"I think it's great that a new building is being built where everything can be handled in a central location," says senior Sociology major Amber Larkin, "I hate walking all over campus just to get simple things like asking about my financial aid accomplished."
The new building is set to have an arsenal of features meant to help students get their questions answered efficiently. There will be counselors available to talk to parents of new students, interactive kiosks telling different parts of Santa Clara's story and at the center of the space will be a huge, metal sphere.
As described by the university, The Sphere —similar in concept to Chicago's famous "Bean" in Millennium Park— will reflect photographs and exhibits around the atrium touching upon all aspects of the SCU experience. Some facets include the Jesuit tradition, history and Bronco pride. "It will, thus, create a kind of mosaic of Santa Clara's past and present."
The Sphere will be a way for new students to fit themselves in and for current students to see what they're becoming.
"That's why we're building the building: to recruit good students and once they get here, take care of them," says Sugg.
The Patricia A. & Stephen C. Schott Admission and Enrollment Services Building is set for completion in June 2012. Just enough time for all those involved to make sure the first impression is just right, because it only happens once.
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Contact Anayo Awuzie at aawuzie@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.