Perkins Student Center renovations create multiple new spaces

4:02 p.m., Jan. 23, 2014--Renovations recently completed in the University of Delaware’s Perkins Student Center have created multiple new spaces including a first floor West Lounge and a large collection of student group offices on the lower level.

“We are excited to announce the completion of the West Lounge and the lower level of the Perkins Student Center, and we invite the University of Delaware community to come check out the new amenities in person,” said University Student Centers (USC) Executive Director Marilyn Prime.

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The West Lounge, built in the space formerly occupied by the UD Bookstore, boasts a wide variety of comfortable seating options nestled among floor-to-ceiling windows, mobile device charging stations and flat-screen cable televisions. 

The West Lounge can comfortably seat around 100 individuals at any given time, and its generous 5,000-square-foot space can easily accommodate a couple of hundred people for standing type receptions.

The lower level includes office accommodations for 15 registered student organizations (RSOs) as well as seven USC offices housing resources for RSO leadership, involvement, finance and marketing. 

The lower level also contains a 12-seat conference room as well as a 6-seat conference room, six bathrooms including two gender-neutral single stall restrooms, two water bottle refill stations and multiple lounge spaces.

The following offices, allocated by application, are currently housed in Perkins’ lower level:

Black Student Union (BSU)

E-52 Student Theatre

Gamma Sigma Sigma

Harrington Theatre Arts Company (HTAC)

Haven

HOLA

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)

Outing Club

Reel Productions Film Society

Resident Student Association (RSA)

Student Centers Programming Advisory Board (SCPAB)

StUDent Government Association (SGA)

Students for the Environment (S4E)

UDance

University Student Centers Student Involvement Office

The centralization of RSO offices into the lower level has also created new opportunities within the Trabant University Center. A Greek Councils and Resource Center has been created in 218 Trabant University Center and construction has begun on a space for the Office of New Student Orientation.

An open house for Perkins’ lower level will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 4-6 p.m. All members of the UD community are welcomed and encouraged to attend. For more information on both USC facilities, visit the website.

Article and photos by Casey Impagliazzo