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Renovation relocation

MSC renovations result in organizations paying for own move

By: Calli Turner

Posted: 4/2/09

When summertime rolls into College Station, graduating seniors won't be the only people on campus loading down vehicles with remnants of Aggieland in search of a new location.

The nine University departments that call the Memorial Student Center Complex home will be out by mid-August when the MSC closes its doors for renovations.

MSCC President Nick Petree said the departments will be dipping into their own pockets to pay for moving expenses, as the MSCC will not be covering the costs.

Petree, a senior marketing major, said the moving costs were not fronted by the MSC so that the renovation money would be spent on the actual project.

Director of Greek Life Ann Goodman said the department will take from reserve funds to cover the moving costs.

"[The cost] wasn't something that was told to us initially, but I've worked here long enough to know that would probably end up being the case," she said.

David Kipp, director of Choral Activities, said he had a similar realization.

"Originally we were told there would be a lot of money for moving in and out, but later we were told this would not be possible," he said.

Most organizations will move to on-campus locations, such as Rudder Tower and G. Rollie White Coliseum, but the capacity of the Post Of fice Boxes in the MSC will be transferred to the Northgate Post Office.

A location for the MSCC Forsyth Gallery has not been finalized yet and the relocation team is in search of an alternate location for Choral Activities, because the originally assigned All Faiths Chapel was not the best fit.

"The All Faiths Chapel was built in 1958 and since then has not been updated," Kipp said.

"All Faiths does not have a fire suppression or fire detection system," he said. "That's hundreds of thousands of dollars [of renovations] and that was not worth it for a space that would not be ours permanently."

Petree said the team is looking at a different on-campus location that would be a better fit.

"They will definitely be on campus," he said.

Kipp said finding a temporary location has been difficult because of choral activities' need for rehearsal rooms, practice space for more than 200 students and offices for staff.

"It's been a tremendous challenge, there's not much like that on campus," he said. "As far as the relocation, I felt like all the people working with us on the relocation are on our side and are doing everything they can to make us feel comfortable and to make this as good of a process as it can be."

"I don't have any reservations about them wanting to help up because they are. I felt a real sense of support from the administration," Kipp said.

The relocation team has representatives from all departments that are affected by the relocation, such as Computing Information Services and the Physical Plant.

Despite his satisfaction with the relocation team, Kipp said, the distribution of moving costs could be seen as unfair.

"I understand that it has to be spread around and we have to pay for it the best way we can, but some departments have to do more renovations than others so it's not evenly spread across," he said. "Some have to do little renovations and moving costs, while others have to do a significant amount."

Temporary locations were assigned in mid-February and the decision was made by the relocation team with the departments' input.

"When we were informed that the MSC was going to be closed, they told us not to actively seek other places for the temporary relocation, but to think about what might be a good spot for us," Kipp said.

Greek Life will move to the second floor of Koldus. This will be the third move for Greek Life within three years. The department moved into the current location in the basement of the MSC in July.

"[The relocation process] has been fine, short of the unknown, we haven't had any difficulties with it," Goodman said. "We feel really fortunate about where we're headed. We feel like it will be able to meet most of our needs."

Anne Kennedy, University Plus Frame Shop manager and Print 'N Copy supervisor, said the relocation team took a tour of her current work spaces before making a decision.

"The way I was involved is I was asked what my needs for relocation were, for example what were my electrical needs, my space needs, my staff needs," she said. "Then I was able to meet with the relocation team and share those with them, and then they actually assessed my needs and assigned us a spot."

Kennedy said Print 'N Copy will continue free pick up and delivery from the temporary location at the Graphic Services Building.

The departments will start the transition from late-May to July.

"I think it will actually be OK," Kennedy said, "I'm optimistic for some positive things to happen."

Occupant Relocation Plan

Student Organization Meeting Space to academic classrooms and Rudder Tower

MSC Bookstore to Rudder Tower lobby

Department of Greek Life, Department of Multicultural Services and Women's Resource Center to 2nd floor of Koldus building

Student Media to the Grove

Choral Activities Office to unconfirmed on-campus location

MSCC Hospitality and event services and MSC OPAS to 2nd floor Rudder Tower

KANM Student Radio Station, MSCC Print 'N Copy and University Plus Frame Shop to Graphic Services building

Aggieland Station Post Office capacity to Northgate Post Office