Summer renovations continue University's major investment in campus facilities

While many students are home this summer, completing internships, working or studying abroad, the campus has been full of activity to prepare for their return this fall.

"This summer's renovations are another step toward modernizing Rider's facilities for students," says Mike Reca, vice president for facilities and university operations. "Students will come back to campus in the fall with new dining spaces, upgrades to residence halls, and improved academic and athletic facilities. All of these initiatives highlight Rider's dedication to creating an engaging living and learning community for students."

Three residence halls are receiving interior makeovers with increased amenities. Kroner Hall, Lake House and Delta Phi Epsilon will all have new furniture, flooring, paint, lighting, individually operated, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and remodeled bathrooms. Kroner will also feature private, gender-inclusive bathrooms complete with an individual sink, toilet and shower in the A and B wings of the building. The bathrooms are part of the Division of Student Affairs' strategic plan to include more gender-inclusive amenities throughout campus. Kroner's C wing will be reconfigured as suite-style housing to increase housing variety on campus.

Kroner Hall will be complete by July, while Lake House and Delta Phi Epsilon will be complete before the fall semester.

Two of the Lawrenceville campus' main dining areas, Cranberry's and the Pub, have been under construction since mid-May. After a complete remodel, the spaces will be fully transformed into a modern dining space for students.

Students will be greeted by a pergola and acrylic canopy along with new seating on the patio outside Cranberry's and the Pub. Inside, Cranberry's will feature an open-concept, circular layout with wooden accents, bright colors and more natural light. Kiosk and mobile ordering will be available to students, faculty and staff. The Pub will become a sit-down restaurant, complete with table-side service and a chef-inspired menu.

Renovation projects are underway in the Fine Arts building. The Yvonne Theater will receive new seating, railings, house and runway lighting, and a new sound system. Three spaces in the building will be renovated to create the Fine Arts Digital Media Lab. The lab will allow for more collaborative work among a variety of majors in the Department of Fine Arts and the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Media, including one of Rider's newest majors, game and interactive media design.

"We're excited for this renovation because it not only upgrades the current Journalism Labs, but it expands our department's ability to collaborate with the School of Fine and Performing Arts, which houses game and interactive media design," says Dr. Shawn Kildea, chair of the Department of Communication, Journalism, and Media.

Students will have access to the latest industry-standard equipment to design video games, edit video, design graphics and more. Each lab will feature brand new, 27-inch iMac computers and 65-inch display monitors to showcase student work. One of the labs will also include a testing space where students can exhibit their game prototypes and other digital creations.

"The students using these labs will be trained with the same professional software that they will encounter in the workplace," Kildea says. "They will be prepared not only from a technical standpoint, but also in their ability to work with other people in a creative environment."

Work continues on three Athletics projects — the Michael P. Brady Track Operations Building & Pavilion, the Canastra Health and Sports Center, and the Richard A. Coppola Pool. The Michael P. Brady Track Operations Building & Pavilion will greatly enhance the daily operations of the track and field program, professionalize meet management and bolster recruiting efforts while honoring the legacy of former track and field coach Mike Brady '76.

Thanks to a generous gift of more than $2 million from Wayne '72 and Jill '72 Canastra, the Richard A. Coppola Pool is undergoing a major renovation with a new deck and basin, filtration upgrades, a better drainage system and a new one- and three-meter dive stand. In June, the University announced that the Maurer Center was renamed the Canastra Health and Sports Center in the couple's honor. Their gift also funded a new facade to the building and planned renovations to Alumni Gymnasium.

This summer's renovations total more than $14 million, which have been funded by bond proceeds and donor support. They are part of the University's comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, which outlines Rider's commitment to improving facilities from a student- and academic-oriented standpoint. Recent projects include renovations to the Bart Luedeke Center, Sweigart Hall, the Science and Technology Center, and the Wright and Ridge residence halls.

Plans are in development to accommodate students from the Princeton campus to the Lawrenceville campus for the 2020-21 school year in accordance with the Board of Trustees' recent announcement. Those changes will benefit students throughout the Westminster College of the Arts.