Gettysburg College promises every student A Consequential Education—and this promise is being brought to life each day through our new Strategic Direction. To position itself for its future, the College continues to enhance its student experience with exciting new initiatives.
Committed to providing an enriching living and learning campus environment, Gettysburg College is pleased to announce upgrades to the following facilities: West Quad residence halls, Plank Gym’s lower level, and the College Union Building (CUB) Ballroom.
“These spaces will provide exciting opportunities to further foster the community that is at the heart of the Gettysburg College experience,” said Vice President for College Life Anne Ehrlich. “Whether it’s hanging out with friends in a fresh new lounge in West Quad, attending a performance or panel discussion in the modernized Ballroom, or meeting new people when they stop to grab a snack and drink in Plank—all of these spaces are designed to help students make the personal, social, and academic connections that will help them thrive.”
Plank Gym’s lower level will be ready for use by the Spring 2025 semester, while construction for the other two projects will begin in May 2025. Read below for more details about each project.
West Quad Residence Halls
Residence halls in the West Quad on campus, which include Paul Hall, Rice Hall, and Stine Hall, will be renovated over a two-year period, beginning in Spring 2025. These updated buildings will feature necessary facility upgrades, while offering more collaborative spaces to build community inside and outside.
Stine Hall will be renovated from May to December 2025, with the project moving to Paul Hall in January 2026 and Rice Hall in May 2026. The West Quad renovations are targeted to be completed before the Spring 2027 semester begins. During construction, first-year students will continue to be accommodated in traditional residence halls.
Renovations include accessible entrances, open-concept lobbies, increased function and privacy amenities in bathrooms, new HVAC systems, and upgraded building finishes and furniture. Patios and pathways will also be added to connect each of the buildings in the quad.
The building lobbies will feature a kitchen and have access to the laundry room, while existing third-floor lounges will be improved. Study rooms that invite collaborative discussions or quiet study time will also be constructed. Both lounges and study rooms will have glass walls to allow for increased natural light.
Each bedroom will also be updated, complete with HVAC upgrades, improved finishes, and new furniture, lighting, and flooring. Accent walls and carpets will highlight bedroom entrances, while hallways and stairwells will also have improved lighting, flooring, and finishes.
Plank Gym’s Lower Level
Last year, the College added an arcade, movie theater, art studio, game room, and creativity lounge to Plank Gym’s lower level. This space will be further enhanced during the 2024-2025 academic year. By the Spring 2025 semester, it will also include an eatery and bar that will be open late on Friday and Saturday evenings, with an outdoor beer garden opening after spring break this March.
The outdoor space—where our community will enjoy food and drinks provided at the indoor eatery and bar—can be reserved for daytime events any day of the week, such as receptions and student organization gatherings. It can also be reserved for evening events from Sunday to Thursday. This social space is open to all Gettysburgians.
Student feedback has been integral to this project, contributing to decisions regarding the layout of the indoor spaces and overall design of each room. The idea for this social space was generated by the Social Venues Taskforce, which is led by Ehrlich, and more students will be consulted before the implementation of its new features. This venue will also offer additional student employment opportunities.
College Union Building Ballroom
Renovations to the College Union Building (CUB) Ballroom will begin in May 2025, following Commencement Weekend.
As a common location for campus-wide events, such as lectures, banquets, dances, speakers, and performances, the renovated Ballroom will become a destination on campus as a multipurpose venue. Its orientation will be flipped with a semi-permanent, expandable stage near the Ballroom’s current entrance, increasing its flexibility to meet the needs of current and future events. The existing Ballroom stage will be removed to create a pre-function space to support event registrations, receptions, and small gatherings.
Renovations will include a new entrance, elevated aesthetic, improved finishes, and new tables and chairs. Additional spaces will also be added to the Ballroom to support events, such as an area that will increase its catering capacity and an improved green room for high profile speakers. Technology will also be upgraded to include dynamic lighting, amplified sound quality, and a video wall.
The Ballroom will not be available for use during the summer and fall of 2025 while construction is underway. The Major Events Committee will review all venue requests for impacted events and will find alternative spaces to fit the College’s needs.
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By Megan Miller
Posted: 10/23/24