Catawba News Service
The conclusion of work on the 7,000-square-foot addition to Catawba College’s Cannon Student Center this month marks the end of a multi-year facilities improvement effort at the institution which began in the summer of 2006.
According to the college’s director of facilities Henry Haywood, “The renovation of the Cannon Student Center completes a phase of projects associated with the college’s master plan projection.”
The new Cannon Student Center addition, off the back west wing of the facility, is home to the post office, which was temporarily relocated in a mobile unit; the Lerner Wellness Center, with a new aerobics space; the Hurley Room, an executive dining area; and a small kitchenette. In tandem with this addition, the dining hall on the lower level of the Student Center was reconfigured to create more intimate, less institutional, dining space.
Other renovation work in the Cannon Student Center included revamping the wing which houses the Student Affairs offices; enclosing and updating a small, private meeting space called Adams Loft; expansion and new cosmetic finishes to the college bookstore; refurbishment of Leonard Lounge, a large common space; and refurbishment of a fast-food dining area.
Haywood complimented Summit Developers Inc. on “an outstanding job.” He also lauded Lawler Wood, the Knoxville, Tennessee-based project manager, for staying within budget and on-schedule.
Other facilities projects completed on campus in the past two years include construction of the five new residence halls of Abernethy Village; renovations to the Corriher-Linn-Black Library, overseen by Ramsey, Burgin and Smith Architects Inc. of Salisbury; and transformation of Hoke Hall to accommodate a new server room and office space for the college’s Information Technology Department.
Several smaller facility projects were also completed at Catawba since the summer of 2006. These included the creation of the Dr. William F. Palmer Archives in a small building located off the back corner of the library; modest refurbishment of a leased building located at the corner of 129 Corriher Ave. at Brenner Avenue to create a music annex, where community music lessons are offered; and renovation of the restrooms located in the lobby area of Keppel Auditorium and Crystal Lounge in the Robertson College-Community Center.