After a summer of hammering and drilling, renovations at the George Sherman Union have been officially completed to start the 2010-11 school year.
Gone are the lights, cafeteria-esque chairs and trashcans, all replaced by energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lights, recycling, compost bins, booths, banquettes and lounge furniture.
"The main reason to renovate the Union Court seating area was to address the accumulated wear and tear on the facility and to reduce the annual operating costs related to maintaining and repairing the older finishes and fixtures," Auxiliary Services Vice President Craig Hill said in an email.
The last major renovation of the Union court was in 1993. During the interval between the two renovations, only minor replacements had been done, Hill said.
"The walls and columns were resurfaced with more durable products such as porcelain tile, stone, laminates and stainless steel corner guards," he said. "Wooden benches were replaced with more comfortable upholstered seating by introducing booths, banquettes and lounge furniture."
The new Union Court also features artwork by College of Fine Arts students and changes to the television and sound systems at the Back Court. Some renovations, such as the new lighting fixtures, were environmentally motivated. The entire renovation project cost about $1.7 million, Hill said.
"The funding for this project came from reserves that were built up through prior years' dining operating budgets," he said.
Some students, like College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Emily Heusted, think the new GSU has a lot to offer Boston University students.
"I think it looks more inviting and comfortable," she said. "I feel more positive about it."
Others have mixed feelings about its size and decor.
"[The changes] add to the atmosphere," CAS senior Ashley Maetani said. "But there's less room than it was before. It was already crowded. Now there's less space. It's a nice thing, but it was not necessary."
She said the fund could have been used for different purposes, such as renovation of parts of campus in disrepair.
Logan Lumm, administrative secretary of the Howard Thurman Center, said though she likes the new seating, she's not a fan of the atmosphere.
"I think they are trying to make it more comfortable during winter, but it's too dark for summer."
"It is not as homey as it was last year," added College of Communication and CFA junior Natalie Schiera. "It is more modern and commercial, but I think it's an improvement, and it is still inviting. But it was cool to see the final product when I came back in August."
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