Smooth Transition

By Staff Editorial     8/26/10 7:00pm

Many changes to the Rice campus welcomed students at the start of the fall semester. Though some of those changes have been met with some resistance, the Thresher has been encouraged to see that the new renovations to Will Rice and Baker Colleges have gone without a hitch. The return home for these two colleges has been comfortable and well-received, thanks in large part to planners who all too often hear only criticisms for mistakes, rather than praise for unnoticed smoothness. According to Facilities, Engineering and Planning Project Manager Larry Vossler, "during the first 14 days, a total of four work orders were issued for more than 100 rooms, compared to 5,500 work orders at Duncan and McMurtry [Colleges] in early August of last year" (see story, page 12). The Thresher commends the planning and execution of the move-in into the renovated colleges this semester.

Along with bringing these colleges much-needed physical improvements, the expansions have successfully furthered the Vision for the Second Century by beautifying the campus and creating an opportunity for more students to experience what Rice has to offer. This seamless transition came thanks in large part to the exemplary coordination between FE&P and student leadership from Will Rice and Baker.

With the students' input, the new buildings incorporated both the practical needs of the university's future plans and the aesthetic demands of the colleges to maintain remnants of the past. In addition, the planners' ability to learn from the opening of Duncan and McMurtry sets the bar very high for future renovation.

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Particularly at a time when much of the student body is worried that the administration is not taking student input very seriously, this cooperation serves as a reminder of how successful planning can be when all interested parties are considered.

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